“Hopefully, you're shopping around among a few contractors before you make a decision,” says Boren. Not only can their rates and practices vary, but it's important to find a good personality fit, as well. And when it comes to asking the right interview questions, according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, sometimes it’s not the responses you get that are important, but what you don’t get. So you should trust your instincts and pay attention to the information that is obviously missing.
Here are some questions NARI suggests you ask before signing that remodeling contract:
- How long have you been in business?
- What is your approach to a project such as this?
- Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors?
- Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
- Does your company carry workers’ compensation and liability insurance?
- How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?
- May I have a list of references from those projects?
- Are you a member of a national trade association?
- Have you or your employees been certified in remodeling or had any special training or education?
For more real estate information, please contact RE/MAX of Boulder, Inc. at philboren@gmail.com, 303-441-5647, or RE/MAX of Boulder, Inc..
Phil Boren is a 26-year veteran real estate Broker and Realtor, specializing in consulting with buyers and sellers in Boulder, CO and along the Front Range of Northern Colorado. Held Real Estate Broker's license in Texas, California and Colorado; Managing Broker for over 200 agents and Brokers for Century 21 and RE/MAX franchises. Award-winning Realtor with experience in management, sales, marketing, relocation, appraisal, REO, BPO's, foreclosures, short sales; previously held the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute. Experienced in both residential and commercial real estate and achieved the No. 14 individual ranking in the 5-state, Mt. States Region for RE/MAX International in 2001, based on sales volume. Received my BSBA in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he was a 4-year starter and 4-year football letterman for Hall-of-Fame coach, Lou Holtz.