Bidding Process

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Bidding Process

Hiring a Contractor is as they say, not nuclear science, but there
are a few steps you can take to eliminate some of the risk. Not all
contractors are bad people. The majority of them are making a living
repairing and adding to your home. Therefore the happier they make
you, the easier the job process is going to be for them. Here are some
steps to take to simplify the Bidding Process.

WHAT AM I DOING.....

1) Think about what you want to do. Most customers have a very vague idea of there project. If your doing a small job think about the specifics, paneling or drywall, wood window or vinyl. These decisions not only assist the contractor in getting a mental picture of what you would like, but also makes the estimation process easier, possibly saving you some money.
If you are doing a big job like an addition, think about hiring an architect. The plans they will give have all the specifics on them. When you give these to Contractors to bid on, you will be comparing apples to apples. If you explain the job to 3 different contractors you will get 3 different prices. Although if you have done your homework, and can describe the job exactly, your estimates will be more similar. There are also Design Build firms that handle plans and the construction.

DO THEY KNOW WHAT THERE DOING.....

2) When you call prospective contractors, ask if they are state licensed in that field ( if applicable ) and have the necessary insurance to do the job. This will save you time and some headaches if they are not competent. Explain to them that if they receive the job you will require copies of there information (i.e.: license, insurance, etc.). Keep in mind, if you live in Mass. all work over $1000 reqiures the Contractor have a H.I.C. number.

HOW MANY CONTRACTORS DOES IT TAKE.....

3) When receiving estimates, three is the general rule. If you get just two, one will obviously be higher than the other. With three, you can get a better feel of the cost. If two companies are higher and one is very low, you wonder why one is so low and vice versa. Keep in mind low is not always the way to go. It costs money to run a reputable company. You are the best tool in the bidding process. Talk to each contractor, check out there references, and there business information. You may feel the most comfortable with the low bidder or love the work of the highest bidder. Its your call !!! If for any reason you feel uncomfortable with one of your choices, by all means replace them with the next on your list.