Choosing A Contractor
Choosing the wrong remodeling
contractor could result in poor workmanship, delays, going over budget, warranty resolution problems or even liabilty issues. Avoid the headaches.
Here are 11 questions you need to ask each candidate before choosing a contractor for your home remodeling project:
1. Is the Contractor Licensed?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
Effective July 1, 2008, Georgia requires all Residential and General Contractors to obtain
a Georgia Residential Contractor License to pull building permits. While a license is no
guarantee of workmanship, it does ensure the contractor has the requisite skills and knowledge to perform the work.
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R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
RL Hayes has already been approved and
has obtained it's license (effective July 1, 2008).
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2. Is the Contractor Insured?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
For YOUR protection! If there's an accident, you could be personally liable and sued. You could also be hled responsible for unpaid vendor bills.
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R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
RL Hayes Inc. provides written certification of general liability insurance, bonding, worker's compensation, property damage and personal liability insurance.
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3. Has the Contractor Been in Business Long?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
You don't want a contractor who's learning on the job.
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R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
RL Hayes has been in business serving North Atlanta since 1988.
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4. Does the Contractor Have an Physical Office Location?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
One of the primary complaints people have about contractors is the ability to contact them for warranty work once they have been paid?
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R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
RL Hayes Inc. has a physical office located at 1150 Alpha Drive, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30004.
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5. Is the Contractor a Member of NARI?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry(NARI) is the primary trade association for the remodeling industry. While membership is no guarantee of quality, NARI members are expected to follow a code of ethics. |
R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
RL Hayes is an active member of NARI and fully abides by the code of ethics.
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6. Is the Contractor Accredited by the Better Business Bureau
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
You should only hire a contractor you can trust. A Better Business Bureau can alert you if a contractor has a history of customer compaints.
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R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
RL Hayes has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2003.
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7. Does the Contractor Offer Design/Build Services?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
Design/build contractors provide design and construction services within the same company, these services in one company can cut costs and project completion time.
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R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
RL Hayes can create a custom design, detail a budget, specify construction materials and build your project from start to finish.
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8. Will Your Job Be Permitted?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
Permitting is an issue that can really come back to haunt you when you try to home. If your job is not permitted and not to
code, you will not be able to sell your home until the problem is corrected. It may be very costly to repair or the entire project might even need to be removed for you to sell your home. |
R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
R.L. Hayes will permit your project if required and have your project inspected after completion.
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9. Will a Project Manager Oversee the Entire Project?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
You don't want multiple people overseeing individual aspects of the job. For quality and continuity, you want to have one single person who will oversee the entire project and make sure all the components work together properly? |
R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
Each project is assigned a full-time certified Project Manager who will oversee every detail of the project from start to finish.
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10. How Will Your Job Site Be Maintained?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
An unmaintained job sight can be a huge eyesore for you and your neighbors. Dirt and dust may be tracked or blown into your current home living space. In addition, tools and debris may pose a risk for injury.
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R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
RL Hayes will do a thorough job site clean-up each and every day, including unused material organization, trash pick-up and sweeping.
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11. Are the People Working on Your Project Full-Time Employees?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?
It is not uncommon for contractors to hire worker by the day. And often, they are not fully able to assess the skills of these workers. Do you really want to take
chances? |
R.L. HAYES ANSWER:
Every laborer working on your home will be a full-time employee of R.L. Hayes and fully qualified for the specific job they work on.
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