Priscilla Toomey: Ten Tips for a Successful Contractor Relationship
By Priscilla Toomey, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker, Julia B. Fee/Sotheby's International Realty
Mar. 23, 2016: With spring having just arrived, many of us are planning renovations or remodeling projects. Choosing and working successfully with a contractor is crucial to the success of those projects. Here are ten tips to help:
1. Get names by networking with people you know, not from the phone book. Your real estate agent is another excellent source.
2. Check the contractor's references. Even though someone recommended that contractor, you want to talk with previous clients to be reassured that they were satisfied with all aspects of the project.
3. Be as detailed as possible about the work to be done and the materials to be used. Be sure to get all this information in writing. In the event of a dispute, you will need the written document to prove your point.
4. Stagger payments. Be sure to leave a payment until after the project has been completed and you have had a chance to check the work.
5. Check the contractor's licenses and insurance to make sure they are in order. Licenses are often required for permits to be granted, and insurance of both the contractor and his subs is what protects you from liability, for example, in the event of an on-the-job injury.
6. Get confirmation of estimated start and end dates. This should be part of your contract. There is often some variation, which can be caused by many things, but you don't want to have to wait for an extended period for the work to start or end.
7. Check the length of your warranty, often a year, and what the warranty does and does not cover.
8. Keep copies of your contract, receipts, and photographs in the event a dispute arises.
9. Regularly check the work being done as it progresses and maintain good communication with your contractor throughout.
10. Take the time needed for each of the steps described above--information about the contractor, details of the work, etc. Your home is most likely your single most valuable asset, so it is important to give it the priority it deserves. That's the best way to assure that it retains, and increases, its value.
Pictured here: Priscilla Toomey, licensed associate real estate broker, JD, ABR, Top5, certified EcoBroker, SRES with Julia B. Fee/Sotheby's International Realty, 2 Park Place, Bronxville, NY 10708; cell, 914-559-8084; email,
Photo courtesy Julia B. Fee/Sotheby's International Realty
