Finding a reliable Georgia general contractor is easier said than done – but it’s one of the most critical parts of your building project. We suggest interviewing Georgia general contractors, but first, you must find them.
When you’re searching for your contractor, it’s a good idea to have a list of questions handy for you to weed out the untrustworthy, unprepared, or otherwise inappropriate contenders from your list.
Before interviewing Georgia general contractors, however, you should go through a few vetting processes. Source names of contractors from people you trust, check standard resources such as the Better Business Bureau, and ask for testimonials or references.
Then, all you need to do is ask intelligent questions while you’re interviewing potential contractors.
The Top Questions to Ask Your Contractor Before Hiring Anyone
How often do you communicate with your customers?
Ideal Answer: Daily, weekly, or whatever works for you. Your communication preferences will vary depending on the length of the project and the nature of the construction. Your contractor should be able to work with what you need: for example, weekly job site visits, daily texted pictures, a call every other day – or whatever you prefer.
How do you clean up your job site?
Ideal Answer: An explanation detailing daily, weekly, or otherwise reasonable procedures for keeping the site clean and safe. A messy job site could present a liability to you (and spark ill will among your neighbors).
Are you licensed?
Ideal Answer: Yes. Georgia general contractors must have a license if they perform work amounting to $2,500 or more. State licensure also offers you security. If your licensed contractor tells you that they cannot finish your project, you’ll have the backup you need to recoup costs, necessitate completion, or otherwise rectify the issue.
Do you have insurance?
Ideal Answer: Yes. Accidents happen during projects. Even the most highly-rated contractors have bad days, and even in the best-case scenarios, it’s impossible to guarantee that chips, cracks, breaks, or floods won’t happen. When these accidents occur, you must ensure you aren’t financially responsible. Your contractor should carry insurance for anything that their team breaks while they’re working on your home.
Do you belong to any professional organizations?
Ideal Answer: Yes – and a quick listing of the professional organizations they belong to. While membership in these associations is not mandatory for contractors, it shows how committed your potential contractor is to their job – and their professionalism. In addition, these types of associations may give the contractor access to training and research materials, resources that can only help your contractor as they work through your project.
What is the projected timeline for this project?
Ideal Answer: A specific – and considered – amount of time. You want to hear that your contractor takes your project parameters into account, even with an initial estimated timeline. Your contractor should also be able to give you a general completion timeframe, even though unexpected problems may arise. After you ask this question, you should follow up with another that probes into the reliability of these projections, such as:
How often do you finish projects in your expected timeframes?
Ideal Answer: Most of the time. Life happens, and a quick ‘all of the time’ response should present a red flag. Ask your contractor follow-up questions about why projects get delayed and how they manage unexpected changes in workflow. Be sure to follow up with your references to see if their experiences match the claims your prospective contractor makes.
Who pulls the required permits for the job, you or me?
Ideal Answer: The contractor should do this. They’ll know how to do this, which permits them to pull, and even the inspecting authorities and local permit officials who’ll get the job done.
Will you offer a guarantee on your work? If so, what guarantee?
Ideal Answer: Yes. Your contractor should also tell you the specific amount of time they guarantee their work and the types of problems they insure against (for example, defective materials for six months, Workmanship problems for two years).
Have you been involved with any legal disputes following a previous job?
Ideal Answer: An honest response. A past legal dispute may not be a dealbreaker if the contractor handled it well, and you’ll need to trust the person you work with. If your contractor has faced legal disputes, ask about the specifics, and double down on your research. This is a great time to return to the Better Business Bureau or personal testimonials to back up your prospective contractor’s claims.
When you’re looking for a hard-working, trustworthy contractor to manage your next project, turn to Peak Steel Contractors. We can design your structure, help you navigate construction, and more. Check out our past projects and contact us for more information.