3 Things to Look for in Home Renovation Contractors

Making the decision to update your home is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make and it’s not one to be taken lightly. The reason for this is because our homes are often the largest investments we have.  Let’s face it, most of us are not billionaires who are holding onto a substantial sum of stock options, and precious few of us sit on the boards of Fortune 500 companies.  Most of us go about our days, trying to pay the bills, put food on the table, and care for our families.

While there is a natural tendency to think of our homes as places to rest our heads and protect us from the outside elements, it’s important to shift that thinking. Beyond the practical day-to-day comfort features that a home provides, it’s also important to view it for what else it is… an asset! Like any asset, the better we take care of it, the more it holds its value, or in the case of real estate… the more it appreciates!

Given what a significant asset your home represents, you shouldn’t just trust anyone to perform those costly and essential updates. Not all home renovation contractors are created equal and there is no shortage of choices in the Chicago area. These are the three critical things to be mindful of when choosing the right home renovation contractors for your project.

1) Quality Above All Else

This is what "separates the men from the boys" when evaluating home renovation contractors. As stated above, there are a lot of contractors in the Chicago area--- some great, some ok, and others who are downright awful. In other words, not all home renovation contractors are built alike and not all contractors build alike. Many will talk a big game. They'll show you their vast portfolio of before and after projects. They'll try to wow you with their technical know-how and impress you with their collection of product samples.

Simply put, many home renovation contractors have mastered the art of the smoke and mirror routine. They will often say and do pretty much anything to lure you into giving them the job. I get it, Chicago is a competitive market and there's this inherent survival-of-the-fittest mindset. It's important to sift through the fluff and get to the real substance. With that said, the best way to determine which ones are worth their weight in gold is to see who's willing to provide references. As a matter of fact, they will be so confident and proud of their references that they won't even take the job until you follow-up with those past customers. It also shows that they're patient and are in no hurry to get the job. Those who aren't in a rush are typically not in short supply of high-paying projects.

2) Dollars and Sense

This is not just about the bottom line. Does it make sense? This is my way of saying, which home renovation contractors represent the best over-all value proposition. It's like the 3 Little Bears story. You know how it goes. This bed's too hard. This bed's too soft. Ahh... this one's just right! Often times the cheapest guy maintains his competitive pricing because he cuts corners and has shoddy workmanship. On the other hand, the most expensive guy is often trying to payoff his premium office space and the high-end Mercedes contractor van. Generally speaking, the best guy is somewhere in the middle. Are there exceptions to these rules? Of course there are, but that's why there's no substitute for meticulous vetting.

3) Licenses are Over-rated

We all get caught up in the licensed contractor game. Yes, some jobs require licensed contractors. Naturally, some townships require it as a condition of pulling permit. I am not trying to persuade you to avoid home renovation contractors who are licensed. Quite the contrary, there are licensing requirements for a reason. Who wants to go to a doctor who didn't attend medical school or didn't pass the board exam? Just to be clear, I'm not comparing the requirements of contractor licensure to the rigors of the board exam. I merely wish to highlight the fact that I've encountered some really awful licensed contractors. Have I found some good ones? Of course I have! Sadly, many of the home renovation contractors with licenses often have attitudes to go with it. Many of them use their license as a crutch to conceal their sub-par quality standards and their propensity for disregarding the fine details. In a nutshell, never use the "license" as a replacement for doing your due diligence.

Conclusion

Chicago is a great city filled with an abundance of resources--- chief among them being home renovation contractors. As a matter fact, I'll go out on a limb and say Chicago is the best city in the world for home renovation contractors and many other trades. Engrained within the fabric of our citizens is a deeply-rooted work ethic and determination to succeed. While there is no shortage of quality workers in our vibrant city, sadly there are other who do not meet those standards. So, it is incumbent upon all of us to employ the proper vetting procedures to save a lot of unnecessary heartaches in the end.