Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Tips For Getting The Best Atlanta General Contractor

By Marla Mills


People love to engage in home improvement projects. However, some jobs are too involving and have to be subbed out. Unfortunately, it is not easy to get an honest, reliable, toolbox-wielding knucklehead. Therefore, you need to be carefully when hiring any Atlanta general contractor because you may end up with an inexperienced individual working on your project. Below are some guidelines that may be useful.

It is important to evaluate the job so that you understand what is at stake. Most people just look for someone who can do the job without understanding the requirements involved. If you just need some small repairs dealt with, then you may just call in a handy person. You only need general contractors for jobs such as major mechanical, electrical, renovations or plumbing that require permits.

Get references. Consider working with referrals if you want to make you work easy. People who work in your local lumberyard or the home improvement store could suggest a few companies that buy materials from them. They also interact with many consumers and they may know what they look for in a contractor. Their opinion, therefore, could be quite useful.

The local home inspector could also be very useful. Once they inspect a home, they normally refer a preferred general contractor to the homeowner to do the necessary repairs. Therefore, they know who can help you best. Moreover, their opinion is professional. Instead of using the local phone directory, which will give you all listed businesses, you can simply use their references.

Prepare a list of questions to ask the person who receives the phone. Do not let the contractor come to your home before you talk with them. Ask about their history and the projects that they have done within your area. Determine whether they were of similar complexity with what you want them to undertake. Know their payment requirements in advance.

Ask if they have a valid and active license. Some job may require that you obtain special permits from the local authorities. If the technician you have hired is not licensed, then you may face serious challenges when it comes to processing these documents. You also need to ensure that they provide liability and worker compensation.

Arrange for a one-on-one meeting. The technician should actually come to your home so that you discuss the project in detail. They also need to evaluate the job to help them come up with a quotation. Strike off any company that sends you estimates without evaluating the job. Use the opportunity to ask questions that will help increase your confidence in the contractor.

Get at least three bids. This will ensure that you get a very competitive deal. Compare the rates and the materials the technician uses so that you can choose the best one. Your decision should be guided more by quality rather than by price.

Do not rely too much on price when choosing an Atlanta general contractor. You could get a low-priced offer because the company is desperate due to lack of jobs or they use poor quality materials. Therefore, choose one that you are comfortable with, but is also affordable. You can further check their backgrounds with the BBB.




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