contractor – Cooper Realty Associates

Tips For Working With Contractors

Home improvement projects are stressful, and unfortunately working with contractors can make this even more difficult at times. Contractors are busy people and they don’t want to work with difficult customers any more than you want to work with a difficult contractor. To make the relationship smoother, avoid disputing payments unless there is an extreme legal reason, be gracious about filling online reviews in a timely and truthful fashion, and offer to serve as a reference for completed work. These tips will help you build a relationship with your contractor and pave the way for a smooth transaction.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Five Tips For Hiring A Contractor

If you are considering hiring a contractor to do work in (or outside!) your home, consider the following tips:

1. Start with research. This includes asking friends and family for recommendations, as well as checking out more unusual avenues for recommendations like lumber yards, building contractors, and others in the business. After you have recommendations call around and ask some key questions and then meet face to face with several contractors before choosing one.

2. Investigate. When you have narrowed your list down, check with your local Better Business Bureau and/or consumer protection agency to see if there is any history of disputes. You can also ask for a list of recommendations when interviewing contractors and call to check them. You can even ask some if you see the work first hand.

3. Get bids. Get bids from several contractors and ask for a breakdown of material cost, labor cost, other expenses, and profit. Don’t less price guide you however, because those who throw out a low-ball bid are probably desperate which isn’t a good sign. Additionally, assess your comfort level with each contractor. In the end it may be worth it to pay a little bit more for someone you can communicate well with.

4. Set a payment schedule. A contractor that asks for a huge chunk of the cost up front may have financial problems or worry that you will not pay your balance once you see the work, so asking for a payment schedule up front is one way you can see about the contractor’s work ethic. Typically you should expect to pay about ten percent up front, the final 10-20 percent when the project is completed and the rest spaced out in payments (usually 2-4) over the course of the work.

5. Get it in writing. When you’ve decided on a contractor, get everything in writing, including the payment schedule, start date, projected completion date, list of materials and products to be used, proof of insurances, and anything else you need or discussed.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-856-6434.

Tips for Hiring a Contractor

If you’re thinking of building or remodeling and you need to hire a contractor, consider these tips from the Contractor State License Board (CSLB). The CSLB is a state organization in California that licenses and regulates the state’s construction industry and protects consumers. Although we are several time zones away from California, the suggestions they offer are an excellent take away for consumers in any state.

Hire only state-licensed contractors and check public records, the BBB, and state licensing organization to check that licenses are up to date and the contractors have a good reputation.
Get bids from at least three licensed contractors before making a decision.
Ask for several references from each contractor bidding and take the time to actually check them.
Get everything in writing. No detail is too small. If you want to protect yourself, get it in a contract. And then keep all relevant paperwork together in a file that is easily accessible.
Ask to see copies of insurance documents or call the contractor’s insurance companies to make sure that their liability and worker’s comp coverages are up to date and adequate to cover your job.
Don’t pay more than 10% as a down payment. (If 10% is less than $1,000, a down payment of $1,000 is acceptable.) And if you’re making progress payments throughout the job, whatever you do don’t let your payments get ahead of the job.
Whatever you do, do not make your final payment until you 100% satisfied with the work, including any last minute touch-ups and the clean-up.

If you’re thinking of remodeling, keep these tips in mind! If you’re thinking of buying or selling, give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.