10 Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Construction Professional

 

This article will take you through the 10 things you should know before hiring a construction professional, including some of the questions you need to ask before committing to a project.

 

 

Embarking on a construction project for your home can be daunting, and it’s often difficult to know where to start.  

 

For most people, hiring a construction professional is something they’ll only do once or twice in a lifetime, so it’s difficult to know what to look out for. Inexperienced or poorly done construction work can lead to unwanted legal battles, in which case, you’ll need a construction law firm to help you out.

 

So, what do you look out for before hiring a construction professional to avoid this? Here are 10 things to consider…

1. Make a Plan

 

Firstly, you’ll need to put together a clear plan of the work that you want done.  Although this may seem like stating the obvious, it will save time and money in the long run.

 

Vague ideas will usually equal additional consultations with prospective professionals. Your prospective construction company won’t expect you to have professional blueprints for your project, but having a clear plan will stand you in good stead.

 

1. Build Your House Budget

 

Do some research so that you have an idea of what the project may cost, and make sure that you are able to afford the project before looking for a construction professional.

 

With a residential construction project, there will often be a number of different costs involved. So, establishing a realistic budget will help you prioritise the changes you want.

1. Get Recommendations on Construction Workers

 

If you do a quick search for construction professionals in your local area, there’s a good chance that you’ll get a huge amount of hits. Wading through these can be time consuming.  

 

Your best bet to start with is to ask for recommendations from friends and family in order to narrow down the list. By asking for recommendations from people you trust, you can have more confidence in who you decide to hire.

1. Ask For Evidence of Previous Jobs

 

Once you have your shortlist, it’s a good idea to have a meeting with prospective professionals, either in person or by video, in order to discuss your project.  

 

At this stage, you should also be asking the professional or company to show you examples of work that they have completed previously, which is similar to yours. This is important as it will show whether or not they understand the brief and have the experience to complete the job successfully.

 

1. Get a Time Scale

 

A residential construction project will usually involve time, money, and a lot of mess. While it will usually all be worth it for the end result, there are some questions that you really need to ask a prospective construction professional before signing on the dotted line.

 

Getting a realistic time scale on the project will help prepare you to make any changes to your living situation and budget plans. For example, you may have to consider temporary accommodation whilst some parts of the construction go on for a lengthy period of time.

1. Do Your Checks

 

Before committing to a construction professional or company, it’s important to check to see if they have a permanent office or workplace. This is to ensure that the company is registered as a construction professional.  

 

This is vital as it will help you to make a claim should any problems arise with your project. It’s also a good idea to ask if the professional or company has ever been known by another name, as this can be a red flag in terms of reputation.

 

1. Ask For Evidence on Insurance Cover

 

When you’re planning to have a team of builders working on your house, you need to know that the company has sufficient insurance should anything go awry. It’s essential that you ask your construction professional for evidence of their insurance cover before beginning the project.

1. Check Who Exactly Will be Seeing Your Plans Through

 

 

In many cases, a customer will have a series of meetings with a construction professional, only to find that somebody different, sometimes even a third party, will actually be doing the work.  

 

Before hiring your professional, you need to know exactly who will be completing the work. This is important as these people will be in and around your home for a period of time, so you really need to know you can trust whoever’s in charge.

1. See What Conflict Resolution Looks Like to Them

 

In an ideal world, your construction project will go without a hitch. However, the nature of the game means that there may, from time to time, be the occasional problem. For this reason, you need to ask your professional to explain their conflict resolution process with, where possible, examples from previous projects.

1. Compare Quotes

 

It goes without saying that there may be the additional costs added as your project progresses, and this could be a result of unforeseen circumstances. However, your construction professional should provide you with a quote for the job at the start, along with an idea of any further costs which could arise and why.

 

Minimise the Risks by Following These Points…

 

Making home improvements is really exciting, but it can also be extremely stressful, particularly if you hitch your wagon to the wrong construction professional. To minimise any risks, it’s important to not rush into this decision and to make sure that you properly research your professional before signing a contract with them.

 

Consider the 10 points listed and you should be able to set yourself up confidently in working with a construction professional.

 

Please be advised that this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a trained legal professional. Be sure to consult a legal professional if you’re seeking advice about construction law. We are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

 

Images

Brett Jordan: https://unsplash.com/photos/jEP4vsHrSM8

Daniel McCullough https://unsplash.com/photos/HtBlQdxfG9k

Randy Fath https://unsplash.com/photos/ymf4_9Y9S_A