How to Check Design-Build Remodeling Contractor References
Checking references for Arizona contractors is more important than ever.
"No One Will Give a Poor Reference for Design/Build Remodel Contractor"
That is true.. if you only ask for three references. Any design-build remodeling contractor can come up with a handful of references. Still, if you want to know how competent the company truly is, you should ask for at least ten customer references, along with references from their bank and critical vendors. Even the smallest of remodeling companies complete dozens of jobs each year. So while ten recommendations may seem like a lot, it shouldn't be!
Due to the economy in the Phoenix area in the last few years, many folks that got laid off or had done handyman work suddenly became full-time remodelers. Many commercial companies have also entered the residential remodeling market to make ends meet. Several major homebuilders have even attempted to step outside their business model in an attempt to find remodeling work. It's worth ensuring that companies like these provide adequate references for their work as design-build remodeling companies.
Hochuli Design and Remodeling team is proud to provide you with 20 recent and local references across Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, and Arcadia. We encourage you to call and ask about our timeliness, adherence to specifications, and price or anything you want to know about us!
Simple Questions to Ask to Check a Reference
You should always be prepared to interview your contractor before they begin work on your home. We recommend having a list of five to ten questions to ask each reference provided by the contractor. Having a prepared list will put you at ease and help you get the information you need. You can also ask references to "rank" their work based on timeliness, cleanliness, adherence to the price quoted, and their professionalism. It's also essential to confirm the type of project that was completed by the contractor. f you speak with a reference and they seem reluctant to provide specific answers or report a negative experience- that should be a red flag.
1. Did they start on the date they promised?
2. Did they clean up at the end of each day?
3. Was the proposal price what you ended up paying? If not, why not?
4. How did they handle issues during the project?
5. How often did they give you an update on progress?
6. Were all of their crew members (including subcontractors) polite and respectful?
7. Would you or have you recommend them to someone else?
8. What was the main reason you picked them?
Two Other Types of References You Should Require
Bank Letter: Additional assurance that they are financially stable. Every design-build or remodeling contractor should have a reference letter from their bank.
Vendor Letters: Evidence that they pay their bills on time. If a design-build or remodeling contractor doesn’t pay their bills on time, they won’t get the best pricing and they may have problems getting materials on time. Sometimes they need large upfront deposits so they can pay the bills from their last project. All of these issues can spell disaster for your project.
