Step 9: Hiring a Contractor and Scheduling Deliveries

Hiring a Contractor

Deciding whether to hire a contractor to complete your project is an important step. Some things may seem easy but could end up taking days, or even weeks of work to accomplish. An experienced contractor will be able to anticipate any hurdles or hiccups that may be encountered along the way.

If you have any misgivings about not being able to complete the project it may worthwhile to consider hiring a contractor with good recommendations, and references.

Some contractors have the ability to complete many different projects, while others are specialized in one area such as trim carpentry. Determining which contractor is best suited for your project depends on the scope of the project, and your contractor’s skill level.

Here are a few tips that will help to make the process of hiring your contractor a little easier:

• Ask friends and family if they have contact information for contractors who have done a good job for them. This is the best kind of referral. However, it is important to compare apples to apples. A contractor who is amazing at drywall may not be able to frame your wall.
• Ask your Build-It-Better Coach for referrals. We can introduce you to industry professionals that may be able to assist you with your project.
• Once you have contact information for a few contractors, ask for references and photographs of projects that they have completed. Have several contractors quote your installation and review their references before selecting one.
• Make sure that any contractor that enters your home is licensed and insured.
• Always be clear with your contractor about your expectations. It is best to document communication with your trades. It can be frustrating if you hire someone to finish a project, and then find out they can’t do an important part of it half way through.
• Selecting a trim specific carpenter can be a slightly more difficult task so here’s a few extra tips for finding one.
• Talk to your General Contractor to see if they have a trim carpenter that they have a good relationship with. They may introduce you, or subcontract the project. This a good course of action as it means the general contractor will handle the details and assume the responsibilities of hiring and scheduling the trim carpenter. However, you may want to deal with the trim carpenter directly if you prefer to be more ‘hands on’ for this sort of project.
• Ask for references and photos before committing to your Trim Carpenter. They may do a fantastic job but not in the style you were looking for.
• Discuss specific finishes and products with your contractor well in advance. For example if you want a stained baseboard make sure to indicate the type of stain and wood finish you desire.

Scheduling Your Delivery

Once you have chosen a contractor, or decided to take on the project yourself you can work on establishing a delivery schedule.

Before planning any sort of schedule speak to your Build-It-Better coach and find out the current lead times for your desired materials. This will give you an idea of what can be installed this week, next month, or in a three to six month timeframe. Then discuss the schedule with your contractor and see if they are available to work around that schedule.

If you prefer your Build-It-Better coach can co-ordinate delivery with your contractor directly. This often helps to avoid confusion with delivery timelines and worker schedules.

Reviewing your quote is extremely important. This will help you to avoid any issues regarding styles or finishes after the material is delivered.

Place your order in a timely fashion after you have confirmed products, quantities, and finishes. Lead times are set at the time of order confirmation and can fluctuate due to unforeseen circumstances.

It is considered best practice to have materials on site three to five days prior to starting installation. It is recommended to store all materials in the room where they will be installed, this allows the products time to acclimatize to your home. This will help to avoid issues with the material expanding and contracting after installation.