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14 Questions to ask your building contractor's clients

7/8/2019

1 Comment

 

Will you want to hire your building contractor after speaking to their clients?

PictureImage courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Over the last few weeks we've looked at a number of serious building defects which have left home owners distressed, out of pocket, and sometimes without a home. Many home owners face the prospect of lengthy legal battles to recover money spent on fixing building problems. This included the horror story of a major UK builder who delivered hundreds of substandard homes. Another article on an  Australian apartment that cost $1.7 million which isn't fit to live in  a year after completion, and more. In other articles I've discussed how you can ensure you are hiring the right building contractor. These articles include Read this before selecting you home building and renovation contractor and Before employing a building contractor ask these questions. 

To ensure you employ a reputable building contractor it's important to ask your contractors for a list of references of past clients and projects. What building projects have they worked on? Are these similar to the work you are asking them to execute? Were these projects completed successfully - finished on time, without fuss and of good quality? But don't just take the contractor's word for it, rather talk to these past clients and ask them these important questions:
  • What was the scope and size of the project that the contractor completed and when was it finished?
  • Were you satisfied with the work?
  • Was the quality good?
  • Did they finish it when they said they would?
  • Did they communicate regularly with you?
  • Was the contractor's management frequently on the project?
  • Were there problems? What were they and how did the contractor handle them? Were the problems sorted promptly? (Remember that almost every building project will encounter problems and there probably will be an error or two along the way - but it's not so much about the problem, rather about the solution and how quickly and efficiently the contractor dealt with the issue.)
  • How easy were they to contact? Did they return phone calls and emails? Were they responsive?
  • Did they work safely?
  • Did they keep the project site tidy?
  • Were there extra costs? Why? Did they advise you ahead of time that you would incur these additional costs? Were they fair and reasonable?
  • Was the contractor helpful? Did they provide good advice?
  • Did the neighbours have any complaints about the contractor?
  • What advice would you give me if I was to hire this contractor?
It's vital that you employ the right contractor for your building project. Take the time to thoroughly investigate them to ensure that they will be the right contractor for your project. Knowing some of the issues that previous clients encountered with the contractor will make you more prepared to manage them should you employ them. Knowing their strengths and weaknesses will enable you to quickly deal with problems before they occur, and it will often give you confidence to deal with the contractor.

Picture
​This is an extract from my new book 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 1 Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home' which also contains lots more valuable information to save you money and ensure that your home build or renovation project is a success. Click on the image to read a preview on Amazon. The book is available in paper or ebook form from Amazon and other online stores, or ask your local bookstore to order a copy for you. For tips on designing your new house as well as renovation ideas read Volume 2 - Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home 
​
© 2019 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.

1 Comment
Charlotte Fleet link
27/1/2021 06:31:52 am

My brother and his wife are building their first home and are hoping to find a reputable building contractor for the job. I appreciate your statement about how it is essential to ask a contractor for a list of references that you can contact and ask questions before you hire them. I will suggest that my brother and sister-in-law ask any potential home builder for a list of their past clients that my brother can contact.

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    I’m a construction professional, author of several successful construction management books, and a home owner. I’ve made mistakes in construction management, I’ve seen others make mistakes, but importantly I’ve had multiple successful construction projects and I’ve learned from the mistakes. I want to share these lessons and my knowledge with you.
    'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volume 1 Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home' are my latest books. packed with tips and information to ensure your home construction project is a success. Get your copy today from Amazon and other online stores.

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  • Construction Home
  • About Paul Netscher
  • +Construction Books
    • Successful Construction Project Management
    • Building a Successful Construction Company
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
    • Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
    • An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses
    • The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman
    • Designing your ideal home
  • Construction Management Services
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