All contractors doing more than $600 of work MUST be licensed in the State of Michigan. The license must be displayed in the place of business and all contractors must carry a pocket license card which you should ask to see. Working with an unlicensed contractor is done at your own risk.

How do you find the right contractor? Which one is going to do a professional job, on time and for a fair price? There is no single correct answer, but the following items will help you.

LOOKING AT ALL YOUR OPTIONS:

• Ask your friends for names of contractors whose work is similar in size and complexity to yours. A contractor who did a great job drywalling a basement may not be qualified to do an addition.
• Look in the phone book for contractors who have earned awards or certifications, who advertise your type of project, and who are full-service remodelors. An organization with a broad range of expertise is probably more likely to be able to successfully complete a complex project than one whose experience is limited.
• Drive around and look for jobs that are currently underway. Stop and talk to the owners about their remodelor.

VISIT CONTRACTOR’S PLACES OF BUSINESS:

• Do the contractors you’re interested in have permanent locations, posted business hours, staff and displays? Look for the Builder’s License and ask to see current Certificates of Liability and Workers’ Compensation Insurance.
• Ask to see drawings and photos of jobs similar to yours. Can they design your project? Does the contractor have enough employees to commit to continuous staffing of your job? Ask for client’s names (preferably whose projects are similar to yours) and then call and talk with them about their experiences with the remodelor.

NARROW DOWN YOUR CHOICES

• Select two contractors you feel comfortable with and have them visit your home separately. Make sure both decision makers are present (i.e., husband and wife) and allow enough time to talk to each remodelor in depth. Discuss the project with each remodelor and evaluate how they react on the site. Do they listen and offer suggestions; do they respect your home; do you feel comfortable with them? It is important that personalities, styles and expectations are compatible so the remodelor can provide a design that works for you, your needs, your style and your budget.

GETTING THE CHOICE DOWN TO ONE

• There is one final service that will help confirm your selection of a contractor without committing to the full project. Contract with the remodelor to produce the design and specifications. The fee for this service is usually 2 to 3% of the expected cost of the project.
• You have now made a limited commitment to the remodelor and you can test the relationship during the design phase to verify your selection.
• If you don’t feel comfortable with your choice at the end of the design phase, you will still have plans and specs which you can then take to the other contractors.

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