From updating the look and feel of a home to increasing value and square footage, properly executed home renovations have many advantages. Families across the country are making the decision to embark upon the home renovation journey, but many do not fully realize the risks that come along with this decision.

The risks involved with renovating a home are present even before the home renovation project begins. One of the costliest errors that a homeowner can make is to choose the wrong general contractor. Selecting a construction company that lacks knowledge, expertise, reputation or insurance coverage opens homeowners up to increased liability and undue stress. While this is a relatively easy mistake to avoid, it is, unfortunately, commonplace in communities across the country.

Traits of Inexperienced Contractors

A general contractor who lacks expertise may not be prepared to handle important electrical, plumbing or structural renovations. Additionally, an individual without proper experience in high value, custom home renovations may overlook important safety concerns or always resort to consulting with other professionals if a problem should arise. Experience teaches a contractor how to effectively pull permits, pass inspections and manage sub-contractors who are working on the job. Hiring an inexperienced contractor can increase the long term costs of the renovation or, even worse, put a family in danger after the renovation is complete.

Another important aspect to consider when selecting someone to complete a home renovation is their reputation in the community. Anyone has the ability to say the right things during an initial interview or present pictures of fabulous custom home designs in their portfolio. While reviewing this information is important, the best indicator of high-quality general contractors is their community reputation. Any homeowner looking to hire a design and construction team for a major renovation is well advised to ask friends, family members and neighbors about their experience with various companies. The Better Business Bureau is another great resource to check. Ask questions about whether or not general contractors showed up on time, communicated effectively, delivered on transparency and finished the job to the homeowner’s satisfaction. Also ask about response time to any warranty requests or complaints to truly gauge professionalism and customer satisfaction. Skipping this step can result in construction delays, unfinished projects or even the company going out of business.

General Contractor’s Insurance Coverage

During the process of interviewing general contractors, the financial aspects of the renovation must also be discussed including insurance coverage. Adequate insurance coverage is important because it protects the homeowner from liability if a worker is injured while on the job site. Insurance also protects the home and valuables within it if the contractor accidentally starts a fire, floods the house or in some other way causes major damage. This is especially important when contractors are working in high value homes because the value of the home is more likely to exceed insurance coverage. To ascertain whether a general contractor has enough coverage, consult with an insurance or financial professional. General contractors should never hesitate to provide proof of their insurance coverage when asked for it. If a homeowner senses hesitation, it is cause for concern.

At Alair Homes, we welcome opportunities to develop customer relationships. We understand that hiring a general contractor for your renovation is a big step, welcome questions and promise to provide information that helps you to know you are making the best decision by working with us. Our reputation in the communities we serve speaks to our transparent way of doing business, exceptional customer service and extraordinarily high building standards that negate risks and improve outcomes. Give us a call for your free, no obligation consultation.