Finding a home decoration contractor to spruce up your dream home
Home decoration contractors are usually independent contractors who undertake home interior decoration projects. Many home owners choose to hire a home decoration contractor because they tend to have budget friendly home decor ideas. These contractors are a way out of the rigid pricing plans and payment conditions of big home interior designing brands.
Choosing a home decoration contractor can be difficult as there might be many local players in your area. This article will focus on helping you find the right home decoration contractor.
Key factors to consider for choosing a home decoration contractor
There are many factors you must consider while choosing a home decoration contractor depending on your home interior decoration ideas. It is important to know all the factors to choose the perfect contractor for your home decoration project you have in mind. Let us have a look at the factors to consider before choosing a home decoration contractor:
1 - Qualifications
Qualifications of a contractor are important to understand if he/she is trained in the profession. Bachelor's degree in a construction-related field, project planning and management, civil engineering, interior design, etc., are some of the best educational qualifications a contractor can have. Some might have even completed a Master's degree to market their portfolio better.
For a home decoration project the best plan would be to hire somebody with training in interior designing. However, people with other qualifications might also be ideal for your project as passion, dedication and creativity is what matters to execute modern home decoration.
2 - Portfolio of contract work
When you hire someone for a job the first thing you ask from them is their resume. This will allow you to scrutinize their experience in their field of expertise. Check what projects they were involved with and what tasks have they successfully completed. This will give you an idea about where his/her expertise lies and if he/she is the right home decoration contractor for your project.
3 - Skillset
When you read through resumes of contractors you must always carefully scan the skillsets the contractor possesses. Some of the most common skillsets mentioned by a contractor includes:
●Carpentry/Finish carpentry
●Cabinetry installation & Refacing
●Basic plumbing installation & repair
●Hand and power tools operation
●Painting
●Laminate flooring
●Tiling
First jot down the skillsets you think you would require to complete your home interior decoration. For example, if you are looking to replace your old cabinets with some new ones then you would need somebody who knows to build cabinets and install them. If your home is made of drywall you would need drywall sanding which means the contractor must have experience in handling a drywall sander.
4 - References
References are the most important yardstick for a contractor. Most resumes always have some references mentioned to prove the credibility of the candidates you are screening. Make sure you call the numbers and find out about the performance of the contractor. You can also make you own enquiries by asking the candidate about the previous companies he/she has worked for or people who have hired him/her for independent projects.
5 - License
Every business needs a license to operate. General contractors also must get one in order to practice their profession legally. A general contractor license is required for anyone taking the main contract on a construction project. Therefore, ask the contractor to show his/her license. This will also come in handy if you want to claim insurance for any damages to the house caused while your home decoration ideas are carried out.
Licenses are given when contractors pass a competency exam that test them on construction laws, regulations, and best practices. Many states require contractors to have a certain level of education and experience in the construction industry. Education may involve completing a certain number of hours of coursework or internship. Some states also give licenses if they have completed a specified number of years working in the field.
You can use your resources to track down these people and take a feedback from them on the work he/she has completed. A simple check online using one of the social media platforms should help you to send messages to these people. Once you find them make sure you ask them details like time taken to complete the task, the delays that happened, work ethics of the candidate and a rating for the work he/she did.
These four factors should give you a thorough idea on the contractor you are hiring. Ensure that the all the details that the contractor has presented to you including the experience and the portfolio of work are trustworthy. This can be easily achieved by using social media platforms.
Tips to choose the right home decoration contractor
An important factor that comes into play while choosing a home decoration contractor is trust. Do you trust the contractor to do the work for you or will he/she abandon it halfway through? Is he/she a genuine contractor or will he/she run away with your money? These are some common questions that you will have troubling your mind while hiring contractors.
So how will you find a trustworthy contractor? Of course you can apply all the factors above and pick one. But some people need greater assurance because a lot of things are at stake here. If you ever read the news, there are many stories about contractors scamming people to the tune of quarter a million dollars.
This is not the only problem, some people overcharge you for their work even though their work is on par with other contractors. Some don’t show up to work on time and some keep extending deadlines. How can you escape these problems and find the right contractor who can complete the work for your without inconveniencing you?
Here are some tips that will help you chose a trustworthy and efficient contractor who can make your home decoration ideas a reality:
1 - Communicate your home decoration ideas
When meet with contractors clearly communicate your vision for the house. Make sure you get the details right and have mentioned all requirements to the contractor. This will help him/her visualize your house and suggest you methods of execution. Listen carefully and think whether you like the options he/she has given you. You can also build on the methods and come up with better ideas according to the method of execution.
2 - Compare multiple quotes from different contractors
Don’t just pick a two to three contractors and then start doing your research. Narrow down at least five contractors and ask them for quotes. Ask all of them to give you a breakup as well, what would be the approximate cost for each task to be complete in the decoration.
You can then begin to compare the quotes and match it with your budget. Note that choosing the cheapest one may not always get the decoration done the way you want. Sometimes the expensive quotes accompany greater quality control measures which is necessary for a home decoration project.
3 - Inquire with different people
If you neighborhood has a recently decorated house or if one of your friends or colleagues have done up their house using a general contractor, then ask them about which contractor they used and what was their experience like. Ask around beginning with your neighborhood. Some of your neighbors will know local contractors from your area that have the expertise and can be trusted with the project.
4 - Check social media platforms
Social media platforms are a treasure trove of information.Once you have asked around you can simply do a research by typing their names into Google. You can also do a quick search on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Sometimes people might have mentioned the contractors and commented on the work they have done. This is an excellent way to double check the authenticity of a contractor’s references.
5 - Check the authenticity of the contractor license
Scan the license and find out which agency or department in your state is responsible for issuing contractor licenses. Visit the website of the licensing authority and go to the section for license verification. Many of these authorities have a database where you can check the status of a contractor’s license.
If you don’t find this database on the authority’s website you can contact the licensing authority’s office to verify the validity of the license. You can easily find the phone number of the licensing authority from Google.
Since you are decorating a home, it would be wise to go for contractors who have experience with home decoration rather than designing office spaces. Ensure that the contractor has ample pictures to show you of his/her previous work so you can determine whether you like it or not.
