Oct
21
Commercial Contractor Referral Vs. Residential Contractor Referral
Filed Under Real Estate | Comments Off
A Nutt asked:
Whether you are a commercial company or an individual who needs construction work or renovation done, there are contractors available to meet your particular needs. The completion of a remodeling or building project requires careful planning and implementation. Contractors will have the proper training and many years of experience. They have developed a network of reliable construction supply contacts and skilled workers who can get the job done on time and on budget.
The best place to obtain a quality contractor is through a referral company or service. Before enlisting a contractor’s services you need to know what kind of contractor you will need for your work project.
Residential Contractors: A residential contractor provides home and renovation services. They have the qualifications and experience to complete any home project such as: roofing, adding a room, renovating bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms,etc. After the job is complete, they will take care of the clean up. They will provide an estimate before you sign the work contract.
Commercial and Residential Contractor referral services differ according to the targeted business. A commercial referral service will only list referrals who are involved with commercial projects. A residential referral service will list contractors who are involved with home based projects. Many referral services will offer both types of contractor referrals.
Online contractor referral services will provide verified, insured, and licensed contractor quotes for any type of project. Bringing homeowners and businesses together with contractors on a referral site will insure that both are dedicated to getting the job done accurately and at the best possible price. Homeowners and businesses can check the integrity and quality of a particular contractor by reading job evaluation responses from former customers. Contractors will bid on your project so that you can get a number of quotes to help you make a final decision about who you will hire. It is a great tool that will ensure you are getting quality and value for your money.
If you have a project that is either commercial or residential, all you have to do is post your project on an online contractor referral site. You will then start to receive bids from local contractors. Some sites also have an advance search feature that will allow you to locate the best contract for your particular new home construction, renovation, or commercial project. One of the best features of the service is that most online referral sites do not charge a fee for customers to post their projects.
A quality referral service will not require contractors to pay a fee to be listed on their site. This ensures that contractors are selected based on quality and competitive prices. As well, contractors will work hard to achieve high quality standards in order to maintain a great reputation.
Finding commercial and residential contractors has never been easier and quicker. By using a contractor referral service, you will rest easy knowing that you have spent your money wisely.
MOSES
Whether you are a commercial company or an individual who needs construction work or renovation done, there are contractors available to meet your particular needs. The completion of a remodeling or building project requires careful planning and implementation. Contractors will have the proper training and many years of experience. They have developed a network of reliable construction supply contacts and skilled workers who can get the job done on time and on budget.
The best place to obtain a quality contractor is through a referral company or service. Before enlisting a contractor’s services you need to know what kind of contractor you will need for your work project.
________________________________________________________________________
Residential Contractors: A residential contractor provides home and renovation services. They have the qualifications and experience to complete any home project such as: roofing, adding a room, renovating bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms,etc. After the job is complete, they will take care of the clean up. They will provide an estimate before you sign the work contract.
Commercial and Residential Contractor referral services differ according to the targeted business. A commercial referral service will only list referrals who are involved with commercial projects. A residential referral service will list contractors who are involved with home based projects. Many referral services will offer both types of contractor referrals.
Online contractor referral services will provide verified, insured, and licensed contractor quotes for any type of project. Bringing homeowners and businesses together with contractors on a referral site will insure that both are dedicated to getting the job done accurately and at the best possible price. Homeowners and businesses can check the integrity and quality of a particular contractor by reading job evaluation responses from former customers. Contractors will bid on your project so that you can get a number of quotes to help you make a final decision about who you will hire. It is a great tool that will ensure you are getting quality and value for your money.
If you have a project that is either commercial or residential, all you have to do is post your project on an online contractor referral site. You will then start to receive bids from local contractors. Some sites also have an advance search feature that will allow you to locate the best contract for your particular new home construction, renovation, or commercial project. One of the best features of the service is that most online referral sites do not charge a fee for customers to post their projects.
A quality referral service will not require contractors to pay a fee to be listed on their site. This ensures that contractors are selected based on quality and competitive prices. As well, contractors will work hard to achieve high quality standards in order to maintain a great reputation.
Finding commercial and residential contractors has never been easier and quicker. By using a contractor referral service, you will rest easy knowing that you have spent your money wisely.
MOSES
Aug
21
How to Find a Handyman or Contractor
Filed Under Real Estate | Comments Off
G. Brian Davis asked:
Question 1: How Big is the Job?
Bigger jobs require better contractors, plain and simple. If you’re renovating a shell, or building a brand new house, you’ll need to pull permits, which means you’ll need a licensed contractor. Because their licenses are at risk, and because contractors have to jump through some hoops to obtain them, licensed contractors charge a premium for their licenses.
That said, landlords who have a leaky pipe underneath the kitchen sink don’t need an expensive, licensed contractor to fix it, as an everyday handyman will suffice. So, real estate investors and landlords would be wise to maintain relationships with at least two (but preferably a lot more) contractors: a licensed, skilled general contractor with multiple crews, and a capable but inexpensive handyman.
Question 2: Does the Job Require a Permit?
As mentioned above, you’ll need a licensed contractor to do any kind of permit job. It’s probably worth it to have the contractor pull the necessary permits, as they’ll know the system well and can do it properly, but a word of caution: always, always, ALWAYS ask for copies of the permits, and keep them on record. There are two reasons why this is recommended: first of all many contractors will say they’ll pull the permits and then “forget,” and second because bureaucracies consistently mismanage their records and you may need to prove that you did in fact have a permit.
Question 3: Where are the Contractor’s Prior Projects Located?
Some contractors specialize in high-end renovations (these are the expensive contractors, of course), while others never leave the ‘hood. Neither is inherently better, since you get what you pay for, and it doesn’t make sense to use a high-end contractor on a low-end property. That all being said, you’ll want to know what kind of contractor they are, so ask for a list of recent projects they’ve worked on, and then walk through them in person to get a sense for what kind of work that contractor does. If possible, talk to the owners of these properties as well, to see how satisfied they are with the work.
Question 4: How Long Have They Been a Contractor?
Career contractors, who are committed to their work and take pride in it, are far superior to contractors who simply fell into the trade for lack of a better option. Ask the contractor how they “got into contracting,” in order to find out how long they’ve been in the business (you’re more likely to get a straight answer with a sideways question). Also, their answer will give you a sense of whether or not they actively chose a career on contracting, which can be a great indicator of how talented and conscientious they are.
Question 5: What Kind of Warranty Do They Offer?
This is a question that far too many real estate investors and landlords ask too late, after a problem arises. Ask this question up front, before they touch your property, because once the problem rears its ugly head it’s already too late. Bear in mind that truly professional contractors OR handymen will guarantee their work, to some extent, while shoddy workers and dabblers will be reluctant to offer any kind of guarantee.
A word to the wise regarding warranties, however: many contractors will be suddenly hard to reach after they’ve been paid, regardless of their warrantee, so buyer beware. Still, get a warrantie and get it in writing, because if nothing else it may make the contractor or handyman more likely to follow through with repairing any mistakes or defects.
Finding a good contractor is a long, painful, tedious process, but by asking a lot of questions up front and doing your homework by inspecting their work and talking to their previous clients, you can weed out a lot of bad contractors quickly. Put in the work up front, and it will save you a lot of headaches down the road.
KRIS
________________________________________________________________________
Question 1: How Big is the Job?
Bigger jobs require better contractors, plain and simple. If you’re renovating a shell, or building a brand new house, you’ll need to pull permits, which means you’ll need a licensed contractor. Because their licenses are at risk, and because contractors have to jump through some hoops to obtain them, licensed contractors charge a premium for their licenses.
That said, landlords who have a leaky pipe underneath the kitchen sink don’t need an expensive, licensed contractor to fix it, as an everyday handyman will suffice. So, real estate investors and landlords would be wise to maintain relationships with at least two (but preferably a lot more) contractors: a licensed, skilled general contractor with multiple crews, and a capable but inexpensive handyman.
Question 2: Does the Job Require a Permit?
As mentioned above, you’ll need a licensed contractor to do any kind of permit job. It’s probably worth it to have the contractor pull the necessary permits, as they’ll know the system well and can do it properly, but a word of caution: always, always, ALWAYS ask for copies of the permits, and keep them on record. There are two reasons why this is recommended: first of all many contractors will say they’ll pull the permits and then “forget,” and second because bureaucracies consistently mismanage their records and you may need to prove that you did in fact have a permit.
Question 3: Where are the Contractor’s Prior Projects Located?
Some contractors specialize in high-end renovations (these are the expensive contractors, of course), while others never leave the ‘hood. Neither is inherently better, since you get what you pay for, and it doesn’t make sense to use a high-end contractor on a low-end property. That all being said, you’ll want to know what kind of contractor they are, so ask for a list of recent projects they’ve worked on, and then walk through them in person to get a sense for what kind of work that contractor does. If possible, talk to the owners of these properties as well, to see how satisfied they are with the work.
Question 4: How Long Have They Been a Contractor?
Career contractors, who are committed to their work and take pride in it, are far superior to contractors who simply fell into the trade for lack of a better option. Ask the contractor how they “got into contracting,” in order to find out how long they’ve been in the business (you’re more likely to get a straight answer with a sideways question). Also, their answer will give you a sense of whether or not they actively chose a career on contracting, which can be a great indicator of how talented and conscientious they are.
Question 5: What Kind of Warranty Do They Offer?
This is a question that far too many real estate investors and landlords ask too late, after a problem arises. Ask this question up front, before they touch your property, because once the problem rears its ugly head it’s already too late. Bear in mind that truly professional contractors OR handymen will guarantee their work, to some extent, while shoddy workers and dabblers will be reluctant to offer any kind of guarantee.
A word to the wise regarding warranties, however: many contractors will be suddenly hard to reach after they’ve been paid, regardless of their warrantee, so buyer beware. Still, get a warrantie and get it in writing, because if nothing else it may make the contractor or handyman more likely to follow through with repairing any mistakes or defects.
Finding a good contractor is a long, painful, tedious process, but by asking a lot of questions up front and doing your homework by inspecting their work and talking to their previous clients, you can weed out a lot of bad contractors quickly. Put in the work up front, and it will save you a lot of headaches down the road.
KRIS
Jun
4
William King asked:
Home renovation has become quite the trend nowadays. It is not like the time when renovation was looked upon as big a headache as buying new property and moving to a different city. This creates a problem. For those property owners who are not in the property business it can be tricky to find the right building contractor to work with. Quite often the only way to choose one is to ask around for a recommendation. Even then it is possible that things make not work out as smoothly as you wish. So how are you to avoid a situation like that? Here are some suggestions that should help.
First off you should have a list of around 3 to 5 contractors handy. Do not go with one. Get as many recommendations as you can. Collect quotes from every one and compare their prices against the services and their past record. All of them should be charging somewhere close to the going market rate for the job. If someone is charging way too low then expect corner cutting and a rush job. Similarly if someone charges way too high, then you are obviously being had. A good contractor will stick to the market prices and not demand unreasonable sums.
If you are going in for a minimal renovation then make sure you do not enter into a verbal agreement. It often happens that small projects are never put to paper and this leads to arguments later on. Always get the contract on paper and signed by both parties. Verbal agreements are worthless. Make sure you understand the contract yourself and that it covers everything you want done.
Another important thing is to speak to former clients of the contractors and get their feedback as to the performance during work and how much customer satisfaction the contractor gives. By speaking to others and listening to their experience with a contractor you will be able to choose the right one. If possible you should visit some of the locations where the contractor has worked recently so that you can see the quality of their work for real instead of through pictures.
An important thing that people often overlook is to actually check the references offered. Quite often the bottom line for their decision is the cost and not the reputation of the builder. Do not engage anyone who cannot show references unless you know them personally and when references are offered call them up and either speak to them or better still try and meet them and look at the work done in their home. This is a very critical component of choosing a contractor and you should not skip or avoid it. When you are checking references you must enquire about things like quality, time taken, schedules met or missed, builder’s attitude, budget control, and so on.
Another thing to check is the builder’s credentials. Not all states require a builder to be licensed. Reference checking becomes even more important in those states. In the others you must make sure the builder is licensed for the work to be done. Also check the builder on the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints.
QUINCY
________________________________________________________________________
Home renovation has become quite the trend nowadays. It is not like the time when renovation was looked upon as big a headache as buying new property and moving to a different city. This creates a problem. For those property owners who are not in the property business it can be tricky to find the right building contractor to work with. Quite often the only way to choose one is to ask around for a recommendation. Even then it is possible that things make not work out as smoothly as you wish. So how are you to avoid a situation like that? Here are some suggestions that should help.
First off you should have a list of around 3 to 5 contractors handy. Do not go with one. Get as many recommendations as you can. Collect quotes from every one and compare their prices against the services and their past record. All of them should be charging somewhere close to the going market rate for the job. If someone is charging way too low then expect corner cutting and a rush job. Similarly if someone charges way too high, then you are obviously being had. A good contractor will stick to the market prices and not demand unreasonable sums.
If you are going in for a minimal renovation then make sure you do not enter into a verbal agreement. It often happens that small projects are never put to paper and this leads to arguments later on. Always get the contract on paper and signed by both parties. Verbal agreements are worthless. Make sure you understand the contract yourself and that it covers everything you want done.
Another important thing is to speak to former clients of the contractors and get their feedback as to the performance during work and how much customer satisfaction the contractor gives. By speaking to others and listening to their experience with a contractor you will be able to choose the right one. If possible you should visit some of the locations where the contractor has worked recently so that you can see the quality of their work for real instead of through pictures.
An important thing that people often overlook is to actually check the references offered. Quite often the bottom line for their decision is the cost and not the reputation of the builder. Do not engage anyone who cannot show references unless you know them personally and when references are offered call them up and either speak to them or better still try and meet them and look at the work done in their home. This is a very critical component of choosing a contractor and you should not skip or avoid it. When you are checking references you must enquire about things like quality, time taken, schedules met or missed, builder’s attitude, budget control, and so on.
Another thing to check is the builder’s credentials. Not all states require a builder to be licensed. Reference checking becomes even more important in those states. In the others you must make sure the builder is licensed for the work to be done. Also check the builder on the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints.
QUINCY
Apr
18
Getting the Most Out of a Relationship With Your Contractor
Filed Under Real Estate | Leave a Comment
Craig Berger asked:
Remodeling or building a home is rewarding in the end, but the process can be cumbersome and irritating if you do not communicate effectively with your contractor. Not only that, but your home could end up costing more without including what you want. Here are a few reminders on how to get the most out of working with your contractor.
Establish Contractor Relationships
Whenever anyone is going to be doing any kind of major remodeling or construction on your home, you should get to know who he is and what kind of work he does. The two biggest questions you always need to ask are whether he is licensed and insured, and what the total price of the project would cost.
Licensing and insurance is extremely important in avoiding legal issues, while the quote should include all potential costs, not just how much the basics will be. It is always better to have the extra money set aside, since you will most likely go over budget to some degree.
What Else Has Your Contractor Done?
Besides making sure of some basic questions, you should also find out more from your contractors concerning the “who” and “what” of the project. For example, who is going to be in charge of the job? Getting to know the foreman and building a working relationship with him will help ensure that the project goes smoothly and according to your wishes. Learn how often he will be on site — is he visiting every day, once a week or less?
In addition to when the foreman will be around supervising, how many people will be actively working on the project each day? This will give you a better estimate of how fast it will be finished. Moreover, has the contractor completed a similar project before? See if you can visit the site of the latest project that the contractor handled, or ask real estate professionals if he knows of this person and their company. Do your best to get references before hiring.
Other Questions To Get The Most Out Of Contractor Relationships
If you have very specific desires on this project, make sure to tell your contractor in detail. For instance, if you want it to be as green as possible, figure out whether you can use local materials or sustainable materials like reclaimed wood. Also, find out how the payment schedule will go, especially for long-term projects like building a new house.
Another question to ask is who will be in charge of the securing the area during off-work hours, as well as who to contact in case of an emergency. Learning as much as you can before starting any housing project will ultimately save you money if you establish a good relationship with your contractor.
REX
Remodeling or building a home is rewarding in the end, but the process can be cumbersome and irritating if you do not communicate effectively with your contractor. Not only that, but your home could end up costing more without including what you want. Here are a few reminders on how to get the most out of working with your contractor.
Establish Contractor Relationships
Whenever anyone is going to be doing any kind of major remodeling or construction on your home, you should get to know who he is and what kind of work he does. The two biggest questions you always need to ask are whether he is licensed and insured, and what the total price of the project would cost.
Licensing and insurance is extremely important in avoiding legal issues, while the quote should include all potential costs, not just how much the basics will be. It is always better to have the extra money set aside, since you will most likely go over budget to some degree.
What Else Has Your Contractor Done?
Besides making sure of some basic questions, you should also find out more from your contractors concerning the “who” and “what” of the project. For example, who is going to be in charge of the job? Getting to know the foreman and building a working relationship with him will help ensure that the project goes smoothly and according to your wishes. Learn how often he will be on site — is he visiting every day, once a week or less?
In addition to when the foreman will be around supervising, how many people will be actively working on the project each day? This will give you a better estimate of how fast it will be finished. Moreover, has the contractor completed a similar project before? See if you can visit the site of the latest project that the contractor handled, or ask real estate professionals if he knows of this person and their company. Do your best to get references before hiring.
Other Questions To Get The Most Out Of Contractor Relationships
If you have very specific desires on this project, make sure to tell your contractor in detail. For instance, if you want it to be as green as possible, figure out whether you can use local materials or sustainable materials like reclaimed wood. Also, find out how the payment schedule will go, especially for long-term projects like building a new house.
Another question to ask is who will be in charge of the securing the area during off-work hours, as well as who to contact in case of an emergency. Learning as much as you can before starting any housing project will ultimately save you money if you establish a good relationship with your contractor.
REX
Feb
20
The Use Of A Building Contractor
Filed Under Real Estate | Leave a Comment
Carolyn Clayton asked:
The term building contractor refers to a group that draws up a contract with another organisation or individual for the construction or renovation of a building/road/structure. If you are having any construction work done on your property or you are hoping to have some construction work done on your property then you should contact a building contractor team.
During the construction or renovation of a property a building contractor team will be responsible for the methods of construction and the execution of a project, both of which are conducted in accordance with the proposed plans that are set out by the person who has hired the building contractor team.
If you need any repair, maintenance or construction work to be carried out on your property it is advised that you hire the help of a professional building contractor team as they will be able undertake all of the work to the highest standard and you will be left with the peace of mind that all of the work that has been carried out has been done so to the best of ability. A building contractor team will also engage with clients every step of the way throughout the building contractor work that will be conducted, they will keep you informed from the moment you inform them of the idea that you have for your property, through to the planning, maintenance and management of the project. Nothing will be done that hasn’t been proposed to you first.
If you do hire a building contractor team to carry out your building work the building contractor team will supply all of the material, labor and equipment that is needed, which includes engineering vehicles and tools as well as the services that are necessary for the construction of the project. Also in many cases, especially when the building contractor job is of a large scale a building contractor team will hire the help of a sub-contractor. The sub-contractor will then do part of the work; an example of this is if a building contractor team needed the specialist help of an electrician they would sub-contract the electrician into the construction job.
An example of what sort of work is involved in the role of a building contractor team includes the following:
? Look through and interpret a client’s plans and arrange the drawings of such plans to meet certain building regulations.
? Submit what are known as tenders, which are offers to do jobs at a stated price as well as submitting quotes or prices for projects to clients.
? They arrange a submission of plans to local authorities for approval and arrange inspections of building work.
? If sub-contractors are involved a building contractor team will have to organize subcontractors to carry out all the stages of building work as well as negotiating their rates of pay.
? They will have to calculate the quantity of material that is required for building projects and then order these from the building suppliers.
? Coordinate the activities of office staff involved in the preparation and payment of accounts
? Undertake some of the building work personally.
LONNIE
The term building contractor refers to a group that draws up a contract with another organisation or individual for the construction or renovation of a building/road/structure. If you are having any construction work done on your property or you are hoping to have some construction work done on your property then you should contact a building contractor team.
During the construction or renovation of a property a building contractor team will be responsible for the methods of construction and the execution of a project, both of which are conducted in accordance with the proposed plans that are set out by the person who has hired the building contractor team.
If you need any repair, maintenance or construction work to be carried out on your property it is advised that you hire the help of a professional building contractor team as they will be able undertake all of the work to the highest standard and you will be left with the peace of mind that all of the work that has been carried out has been done so to the best of ability. A building contractor team will also engage with clients every step of the way throughout the building contractor work that will be conducted, they will keep you informed from the moment you inform them of the idea that you have for your property, through to the planning, maintenance and management of the project. Nothing will be done that hasn’t been proposed to you first.
If you do hire a building contractor team to carry out your building work the building contractor team will supply all of the material, labor and equipment that is needed, which includes engineering vehicles and tools as well as the services that are necessary for the construction of the project. Also in many cases, especially when the building contractor job is of a large scale a building contractor team will hire the help of a sub-contractor. The sub-contractor will then do part of the work; an example of this is if a building contractor team needed the specialist help of an electrician they would sub-contract the electrician into the construction job.
An example of what sort of work is involved in the role of a building contractor team includes the following:
? Look through and interpret a client’s plans and arrange the drawings of such plans to meet certain building regulations.
? Submit what are known as tenders, which are offers to do jobs at a stated price as well as submitting quotes or prices for projects to clients.
? They arrange a submission of plans to local authorities for approval and arrange inspections of building work.
? If sub-contractors are involved a building contractor team will have to organize subcontractors to carry out all the stages of building work as well as negotiating their rates of pay.
? They will have to calculate the quantity of material that is required for building projects and then order these from the building suppliers.
? Coordinate the activities of office staff involved in the preparation and payment of accounts
? Undertake some of the building work personally.
LONNIE