Doing a construction? Or a home renovation perhaps? Well, basically the hardest process into starting all these might be searching for the right contractor. How will you be able to find the right contractor?

Most of the times, homeowners hire the first person they interview. “They get so excited that they made the commitment (to do the renovation or upgrade), that they forget the job they have in front of them,” says Mike Homes, a professional contractor and host of HGTV’s Holmes on Holmes.

“One thing I’ve learned: It will take you longer to find the right contractor and check out the job, than to do the job.”

Here are the 8 Tips on how you will be able to find a good contractor:

1. Get Recommendations

Naturally you would want to ask other people, your friends or neighbours and would ask for recommendations. After all, they may have good experience with the contractors that they previously hired.
According to Paul DiMeo, designer and co-star of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, “You want to make sure that, whoever you’re using, that you have a personal referral, That’s why it’s best to talk to a friend.” But a good referral alone is not just enough. A friend or someone might have liked the contractor but that doesn’t mean that the job that the contractor did was good. Still, it is a good starting point.

2. Do Phone Interviews

Well, you’ve got your list on your friend’s recommendations and of your own, the next thing to do is to call all your prospects and ask them the following questions:
• Do they take on projects of your size?
• Are they willing to provide financial references, from suppliers or banks?
• Can they give you a list of previous clients?
• How many other projects would they have going at the same time?
• How long have they worked with their subcontractors?
The answers to these questions could help you with their qualifications.

3. Meet Face to Face

Communication is very important. If you’d already picked someone from your phone interview, meeting and talking to them personally is even of greater help. Although, the personality that they may be showing can also fool you. Better also check their history backgrounds with previous clients for disputes and other helpful information’s and that’s where Tip #4 comes.

4. Investigate the Facts

Determine the contractor’s specialty. As discussed in Tip #3, check their history backgrounds. Call and check with their previous clients. You could also visit the contractor to where he currently works and see how he progresses and the results.

5. Make Plans, get Bids

If you now have the list of your contractor prospects, you will now have to ask them for their breakdown of expenses, cost of materials, labour and profit margins. Generally materials account for 40 percent of the total cost; the rest covers overhead and the typical profit margin, which is 15 to 20 percent.

6. Set a Payment Schedule

Payment schedules can also speak to a contractor’s financial stats and work ethics. Discuss the matter carefully with them.

7. Don’t Let Price Be Your Guide

Don’t let price be your guide. It is after all better to be spending more and get the best and comfortable result in construction.

8. Put it in Writing

Planning and recording are always the key in every process. Record every deal agreements, the details and the process for the construction project. Set construction process schedule.