Hiring a contractor represents an essential step towards completing a home renovation project. Some work might be minor, and other projects will be more involved. Either way, an Alabama homeowner may assume signing an agreement places all the responsibilities on the contractor. That might not be the case, and a contractor could withhold important information, resulting in unforeseen problems.
Oversights prove costly
A contractor might not tell the homeowner about the permits necessary for the project. Launching a job without the required permits could lead to the local municipality levying a fine against the property’s owner. All work may need to cease until the proper permits are in place, contributing to further delays and costs.
Does the contractor have the necessary liability insurance? If not, the homeowner might need to initiate construction litigation to recover losses. Hopefully, the contractor has sufficient assets to cover any judgments absent insurance.
Things to know about when hiring a contractor
Homeowners may find it beneficial to look into the contractor’s background. Does the contractor possess the necessary skills and experience to handle a particular job? Is the contractor licensed? Rushing to hire a contractor capable of “starting right away” may prove regrettable.
Similarly, contractors that offer “lowball” estimates may not deliver on quality expectations. Some jobs cost within a ballpark figure unless someone cuts corners or uses cheap materials.
Even when a contractor does a fine job, the worksite could end up a mess. Will the contractor handle the complete removal of debris and also perform a thorough cleanup? Maybe the homeowner has to make arrangements with another service for removal and cleaning work.
Things may go wrong even when the contractor tries to complete a project on time. Bad weather might cause delays, and an important worker could suffer an injury. Planning for the unexpected might make less-than-desirable news more manageable.
