How do you usually handle this in your area? Can you give me a timeline? In that process, I noticed that I tended to ask the same general questions to anyone I interview to work with my house flipping team . It would also be beneficial to find a contractor who has worked on projects similar to yours before for increased success. 1. Picked up a few good things I don’t specifically ask about. “To be stable, you need repeat business from customers. What guarantees can you give me? Are you licensed? That stinks buy you don’t hold the exclusive on that one. we make sure that all subs know that we expect them to clean up their mess at the end of the day, and remove any debri they have created. Here are 7 questions to ask before hiring a contractor and signing a contract. I like that you recommend to ask if any subcontractors will be used. Create an account today to get BiggerPocket's best blog articles delivered to your inbox. This is something that will be good for us to know so that we will be able to make sure our budget is able to match it and know how much of it is due at certain times. You never want to get burned and loose any money if he decides to walk with your deposit. I’ve walked in some of my job sites at the end of the day and it’s a total mess. Acing investor meetings and landing that funding is as much about the questions you ask, as the answer you have to what investors will grill you with. Do you clean it up?” And then they may say yes or give you some kind of half-answer, then you might say, “Would it be an issue if I wanted my job sites cleaned up at the end of every day?” See what he says and make your decision. Here are some of the main considerations you should keep in mind to plan ahead, reduce your taxes, and minimize your risk of audit. timely manner. They will need to template for holes, etc. 9 Questions to Ask Your Contractor Before You Hire Them When hiring a contractor there are a few key things you should always do – make sure you get multiple estimates, check their references, never pay upfront, and always get everything in writing. Some get their building materials on credit, while others who are all cash, so payment amounts tend to differ based on the contractor. This is some awesome information on finding a good contractor. Scott. Show up at an undisclosed time and check out how the crew is working together and how the job site looks. Remember that in house flipping, time is money. With the majority of GC’s, they use subcontractors. Cheap is actually expensive, if you k ow what i mean! “A contractor that asks questions is trying to uncover what you really want, but one that just nods and agrees with anything you say is not. Anne Higuera CGR, CAPS September 18, 2013. From there, the Pro will submit the order to the corporate office to get a price quote and, within a few hours, you will be offered a price that is somewhere in the neighborhood of 8-12% below … Free Mobile Apps “Customers and contractors both have to be fair with one another, and your expectations have to be realistic,” Gouker noted. This is a great way to not just HEAR what they do, but SEE what they do as well. It was very helpful. But certainly you have the right to ask them. 14 Killer Questions to Ask Your Contractor 1. Have the contractor tell you each day what to expect and ask what they need from you. Purpose: This document equips property owners with basic knowledge, consumer protection, and questions to ask when . For example, I planned on networking for referrals and doing interviews with GCs before I even have a prospective deal so I can hit the ground running when I do. If he has to fire his framer every other week, you may have a hard time getting that part of your renovation done. I will keep these questions in mind thanks! In fact, if your contractor doesn’t also have a laundry list of questions to ask you, it may be a red flag that their estimate is not detailed, accurate, or trustworthy. Hi, It is a nice list. I am asking more questions with Covid in mind. 2. What's your business history? He will just move on to another project. Its one thing to SAY you do this and that, it’s quite another to SEE if they actually do it. The value of the house only comes in to play on our insurance and the price varies depending on the value. Usually split up by time metrics and meeting those dates before payment is issued. I am just getting started, buying a new (to me) home. Not only is it their specialization, you’ll be prone to have work done well, inside a “Customers who ask questions are our favorite customers! Just to be safe, we’ve also put together a free cheat sheet with 18 more questions that we have handpicked to ensure that you really leave the hiring manager impressed. Michael, your list of questions is a great starting point for hiring a new contractor. What issues have risen up in current projects? We also wrote a list of questions to ask a contractor. 10 Questions to Ask Potential Contractors Ensure the right fit by interviewing general contractors about these topics that go beyond the basic. If your contractor admits that there has been a dispute or two in his past, this isn’t necessarily a red flag so long as he treated the situation respectfully. The trick is to casually, or informally ask these questions while showing him around the project site. One of the basic questions indeed. 5 Questions To Ask Your Contractor . No doubt, finding a good general contractor for your House Flip Power Team to renovate your flips is no easy task when you’re first starting out. How do you handle payment? Finding a contractor … With information being so easily available via the internet, it’s easy for people to steal contractors information. Also, ask them if they have a pocket ID or some other ID so that you can be sure the person you are paying and letting in your homes is actually the contractor or authorized by that contractor. “When disputes happen, give the contractor the opportunity to fix it,” suggested Kelly. Great article, totally what I wanted to find. I will be using this list. Canada: HomeStars Contracting businesses that have been in operation for many years have certainly worked through a lot of the growing pains that many companies deal with in their fledgling years. If they don’t agree, find out why not and see if you can negotiate least changes that are acceptable to you. France: 123Devis & Travaux In this case you may want to pose the question less formally like; “If you’re doing an all new interior, what happens if something goes wrong?” If he says, “We’ll go back in and fix it”, then you’re all set. The Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Contractor After You Meet. Don't Tell a Contractor Your Budget. Now comes the challenging part: selecting the right general contractor… Thanks for adding your comments. These questions will help a lot of client to choose the right contractor for them. Never too early to start Scott. Friends and family are a great place to start for recommendations. You should also be prepared for contractors to have their own list of questions to ask you. Home renovations can be a little intimidating but the rewards are many. In most cases, they then they sub out the electrical and plumbing. As to jobsite clean up, when getting bids, etc. For the contractors I’ve found that have worked the best for our team, we hooked up with them through referrals and networking. 6. I don’t know if this has already been discussed else where, but where can I find an example contract agreement between a flipper and a contractor for the job.