How to Select a Remodeler

How to Select a Remodeling Professional

Outside of buying your home, remodeling may be the single biggest investment you make. You need to know the remodeling company you choose is a full-time, dedicated remodeling professional. Because NARI members voluntarily follow a Code of Ethics, you can be assured your NARI remodeler is properly insured and following all local, state, and federal regulations.  When you hire a NARI member, you are hiring a company that has made a strong commitment to professionalism.

By following these basic guidelines, you will not only make the selection process easier, but you will also be more prepared to make an informed decision that best suits your needs.

  • Employ a contractor with an established business in your local area.Local firms can be checked through past customers. As tax-paying members of your local community, they are compelled to perform satisfactory work for local homeowners in order for their business to survive. Always be sure that you do business with a company properly licensed to work in your area.
  • Look for a local member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). The NARI logo is the mark of a professional.
  • Check the remodeling contractorwith the state attorney general’s office or Better Business Bureau to see if there is an adverse record on file.
  • Ask for local homeowner referencesand follow up on them. Call the references and ask if they were satisfied with all aspects of the contractor’s performance. Ask to see the finished project.
  • When interviewing the contractors for your project, do not blindly accept the lowest estimate. Ask the contractor why his price is higher or lower than another. Are all contractors planning to remodel the project with the same products and finishes? Have all the contractors considered all the details necessary for your project’s success? Often times, a higher price may be worth the cost of better materials and service. Remember that your remodeling dollars spent represent a permanent investment in the home you will spend countless hours in.
  • Choose a company with which you feel at easeand one that is well-matched to the scope and complexity of your particular project.