With more and more Orange County homeowners choosing to stay in their current homes due to low interest rates, the home improvement market is booming! Rather than selling their current homes and buying their “dream homes,” homeowners are choosing to upgrade their homes to turn them into something close to their dream homes.
For any major residential remodel, it’s vital that you choose the right general contractor—one who can successfully manage the entire project, while staying within their quoted budget and timeline.
Finding the right general contractor in Mission Viejo will require homeowners to do some legwork. You don’t just want to go with the first person or company that pops up on a Google search. Here are four steps you should take before signing a contract with a Mission Viejo general contractor:
Make Sure the Mission Viejo General Contractor is Licensed
The very first thing you want to do before you even start contacting general contractors is make sure they are licensed. Even if the general contractor’s name came to you as a referral from someone you know and trust, it’s still wise to do a quick check that the general contractor is actually licensed and that their license is current and active.
A licensed general contractor will not only have passed a test from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), but they will also to have proven that they have experience in the industry. What is more, every licensed general contractor is required to carry a bond for at least $25,000, which protects consumers in the case of property damage or if the job is not completed properly.
To check if a contractor is licensed, go to the CSLB website and type in the contractor’s business name. Anyone marketing himself or herself as a general contractor should have a “B – General Building” classification.
Look for Evidence of Completed Projects
Having an active license is just the bare minimum for the general contractor you hire. You also want to make sure the general contractor has experience with major home remodels. If they have a website, look for a portfolio of actual completed projects (as opposed to stock photos).
You may also want to ask if they have any past clients you could contact about their experience working with them.
Have an Extensive Consultation with the General Contractor
Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a few licensed general contractors who have experience with the type of home renovation project you are looking to complete, contact them to schedule a consultation. Have them come to your home to see your space and talk about the ideas you have. Look for general contractors who have some ideas of their own, as opposed to those who just say, “We can do whatever you want.” Inevitably, things will come up during the course of the remodel that will call for some creative problem solving. At that point, you will want to have a general contractor who can offer some solutions.
You also want to make sure that the general contractor you hire is someone with whom you can communicate easily. A major home remodel will require a good amount of collaboration between you and your general contractor. It’s important that he or she be able to communicate in a way you can understand.
Look Over their Proposal Carefully
Once you get a quote from a general contractor for your proposed project, be sure to look over it carefully. Does it include everything you want it to include? Is there language in it that needs clarification? Don’t be afraid to ask for changes and don’t sign anything until you are completely comfortable with it.
