Home Improvement Contractor, simple step by step guide...

[Kuchibrat]

Home Improvement Contractor, simple step by step guide...

People of all ages spend thousands of ringgit each year on home improvements. MOST prefer to hire someone to do the work, while few people enjoy doing the work themselves (handy man in the house). If you’re the type to hire someone, picking the right contractor is a key decision.

It might seem convenient simply to hire the person who displays their signage at a nearby house which looks fairly good. Beware of any contractor advertising on lamp post, its kinda freaky, these kinds of sales approaches are standard practice for scam artists, who prey particularly on desperate people, and, especially professionals who just doesn't have the time to research in getting the right now. AND don’t let just any contractor who happens to be in the neighbourhood, visiting you at your NEW house, dun let them into your house and don’t do any business with them! I was at my Uncle's house, when I notice the scam happened, they came visited, they advised confidently, they promised, they took the deposit, they went MIA. To be safe, make sure you follow some guideline in getting the right man for the job...

Define the Job.
Before selecting anyone to do work in your home, carefully evaluate what you want done. List exactly what you want a contractor to do. Taking your time at the start of a project increases the odds that you will be satisfied with the contractor’s work.

For an example, perhaps you decide to redecorate your living room. You’ll want the contractor to prepare the walls for painting, and order your new paint/wallpaper before actually begining work. You also will want to find out as much as you can about differences in the types, qualities of the materials you want used. You can do this by visiting wallpaper and paint stores. The more you know in advance about the materials involved in your project and their prices, the better prepared you are to choose a contractor.

If you are not entirely certain what or how you wants the personalisation of your house to be done, you could source for a contractor with an ID guy to help you out.

Get recommendations
Well this discussion is to create a list of contractors, so check out the listing here, talk to the KUC residents who recommended it, or you could even cehck out those who were recommended by your friends/family members nearby, and your immediate neighbors about their experiences with contractors.

Were they satisfied with the work, the price, and the time it took to get the job done? Ask local hardware stores about contractors/workers they respect. Or ask a handy man whose work you liked to steer you to a good contractor. Well do share them with us as well and list them down in this site for all KUC members to source them as well...

Check out the recommendations, compare & close the deal..
Call the contractors in your list you have checked out. Find out if they do the type of work you want. Ask if they can finish the work in your time frame and how long they have been in business. Get copies of proof that they are licensed, bonded, and covered by workers’ compensation and liability insurance. If possible make sure to get references of satisfied customers and check them out. For bigger projects such as putting on an addition to your house.

Next, narrow your list down to three contractors. Have a face-to-face meeting with these contractors to talk about your job, your specifications, and your budget. You and the contractor need to have a clear understanding of the work to be done. You also want to feel comfortable dealing with the people who will work in your home. Get written estimates that give detailed specifications of the materials to be used, the labor charges, and the start and finishing dates.

MOST IMPORTANT - Lowest may not be best
Now, take time to compare the estimates carefully. The lowest price tag may not be your best choice. If you find there is a wide range between the bids, ask the contractors for an explanation. Is something missing? Are the material specifications different? The low bidder may be taking shortcuts on quality.

Before signing
Don’t be rushed into signing quickly. Take your time to make a decision and get a second opinion before you sign anything. Any genuine good deal will still be there tomorrow.

SO TO ALL KUC RESIDENTS, DO SHARE WITH US YOUR CONTRACTORS HERE - List down their contact details & your experience with them.