Picking a home remodeler can be stressful. The first and most critical decision is selecting what remodeling company to work with on your project. There are many different types of remodeling companies: design/build, design-bid-build, or you could act as your own general contractor and coordinate all the chaos yourself. (We don’t recommend this route unless you’re a seasoned pro or want grey hair sooner rather than later).
Are you trying to figure out who to hire? Here is some information to consider when figuring out how to pick a home remodeler:
Trust your gut.
Remodeling is a collaborative relationship. Choose a remodeler that you feel comfortable working with, communicates well, and has experience in similar projects to yours—ultimately, working with people who do what they say they’re going to do goes a long way. If only we had a dollar for every time a potential client said, “Oh, I’m so glad you answered the phone! I’m still waiting to hear back from that other company.” Pay attention to basic customer service standards here. Pay attention to responsiveness as an indicator of how a company operates. If you’re playing phone tag at the beginning of the project, what will happen when you’re living in a demo-ed kitchen?
Be wary of the lowest bid.
You get what you pay for. Companies structure their contracts in different ways. Companies can also differ in their approach to handling business and what their contracts cover. It’s apples to oranges. So, while comparing the bottom line, ensure you understand what you’re paying for, including what’s included and left out. You should feel confident that the company will be reasonable to work with and have answers to your questions.
Questions to ask prospective remodeler contractors you’re interviewing:
- “What’s your process?”
- “Will I have help making all of my design selections?”
- “How do you handle change orders?”
- “What kind of warranty do you offer?”
Do your homework. Read client reviews.
Don’t take the company’s word for it – check out their reviews. Many past clients are happy to share their experiences, and what better way to vet a contractor than to hear directly from their customers? Check out the remodeling company’s Google Reviews, Nextdoor recommendations, GuildQuality surveys, and Houzz testimonials; the list goes on and on. Be sure the company has a variety of reviews. If the most current positive review was posted in 2007, that might be a red flag. Everyone’s busy, and you should be confident that the remodeler can handle your project in the current industry conditions.
It’s all about the experience.
Something will inevitably come up during your remodeling project. So, feeling confident that your remodeler will appropriately handle the issue is crucial. It all starts with picking the right remodeling partner for your project. A trusted renovation partner to work through the messy middle is the key to a successful project. You don’t have to be best friends with your remodeler. Still, you should have mutual respect and trust in their abilities and work collaboratively toward creating a beautiful and functional home you love.
Ready to pick a home remodeler?
If you’re curious if Mountainwood Homes would be a good fit for you and your project, reach out to talk with our team. We work with homeowners in the Portland Metro area, Beaverton, & SW Washington to remodel and refresh their kitchens, bathrooms, home additions, and whole houses, and we’d love to work with you.