Some Important Things to Consider When Choosing your Contractor

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This can be one of the most nerve-racking steps for any homeowner looking at doing a bathroom renovation or any renovations for that matter. We are generally these days finding people/contractors online. We struggle to find contractors, not really knowing what characteristics these contractors have, as well as what work they produce. This blog can help identify what to look for when choosing a contractor, along with some questions to ask and what they should provide before commencing any renovation.

Service, Responsiveness and Reliability

  • Did the contractor answer your enquiry? For some contractors we do miss the initial call, if this happened and you left a message, did the contractor get back in touch with you within 2-3 days?

  • Did the contractor turn up on time? Did the contractor call if they were running late? (The first initial meeting is just as important as maintaining a balance of a good client relationship throughout the whole process of the renovation).

  • Did you get a good feeling from the contractor while they were carrying out your quote/site visit? (This could be in the form of listening to what the client’s needs and wants are, budget and characteristic of the contractor being trustworthy). This is important as this could be the tiebreaker in whether you want to engage that contractor to carry out your renovations.

  • Are the contractors suitably qualified to perform the works? We have all heard those horror stories and know of at least 1 person who has hired contractors that have turned into something out of a nightmare. Engaging unsuitable, unqualified or uninsured contractors can be disastrous and costly, so having the security of knowing they have suitable qualifications is a must. You can also check they have the proper insurance cover by asking for their insurances and to be sent through via email, as well as going online and doing checks via the QBCC (Queensland Building construction commission) website.

Understanding Remodelling and Renovation Quotes

  • Usually, we all roughly get around three quotes! When these quotes are received, how do they compare against each other? Are they all inclusive (plumbing, electrical, fittings etc)? Are they exactly the same or how do they vary? (Processing) Reading through the quote and taking your time is important before accepting said quote. Some quotes may not compare to other cheaper quotes, therefore, cheaper quotes do not always equal the best quality or all-inclusive pricing. Sometimes those same quotes can hide variations and thus clients can be caught out on costs they may have thought were included. This is why it is important to take your time to read through the quote. When on-site, contractors should discuss all your desired fixtures and fittings (including but not limited to; tiling style and theme) and then base the quote off of your wish list. On the other hand, sometimes that wish list can be expensive and blow out renovation budgets. To cater to this, our contractors can change the fixtures and fittings to a different brand with a similar look or as close to as possible. This in turn reduces the overall costs without compromising the theme or look.

  • Did the contractor break down the quote to make it easier for the client to understand and read? Based on the initial meeting and the clients’ preferences (which again can be changed) the quote should be itemised, easy to follow and as an extra bonus provide links to the fixtures and fittings that the contractor has chosen based off the client’s wish list or theme. They could even go a step further and provide a showroom so the clients can go and see the product firsthand, which may always allow them to find other fixtures and fitting they may like. We all know that people are getting busier these days so sometimes clients like a fuss-free renovation, and by providing links or visual products this can help cut down the time it takes to choose.

  • Did they contractor provide a timeframe of when you would receive the quotation, and did you receive that quotation in the timeframe given?

Check Online Reviews and Social Media

  • Did you check their social media platforms? Do they offer Social media platform? What were their reviews like? (Did they have 5-star reviews and how many?) It’s important that contractors are connected via social media and provide a quality website, that way you can check their quality of work, usually great contractors provide before and after photos as well as display reviews from previous clients.
    As an extra bonus, great contractors should be able to offer other client references to call or talk to (provided those previous clients are happy to do that and provide their phone number) This can give insight into the contractor’s work quality, characteristics, how they project manage renovation works and styling and themes.

Price, Budget and Value for Money

  • Finally the price, does the contractor provide value for money in the case of renovations, do the fixtures, fittings, style and theme, reflect what’s in your budget? We have all heard that saying “Champagne taste on a beer budget” and sometimes choosing glamourous fixtures and fittings can add up based on your wish list. However, adjustments can be easily made to ensure the costs are brought more in line with your budget without having to change the theme or style.

Making the Right Choice

Once you have all the answers, this will state what the engaged contractor will be like to work with throughout the whole renovation process. When getting a bathroom, kitchen or laundry renovated this is a large investment and any contractor you engage needs to run the process as smoothly as possible, to be able to provide minimal stress and discomfort.

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