Choosing A Home Remodeling Company

Finding the home remodeling company who's right for you is not as simple as picking up the Yellow Pages. On a big home remodeling project, you may be working closely with this individual for several months, so you want to do everything possible to ensure that you make the right decision.

Here are some good places to start your search:

	Seek referrals from friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and others who have had home remodeling work done.
	Talk to independent trade contractors, building materials suppliers, architects, engineers, home inspectors, and local lenders.
	Look for professional certifications like Certified Graduate Remodelor (CGR) and Certified Aging in Place Specialist.
	Contact trade associations such as Michigan's Remodelors™ Council or utilize the Builders Industry Association for finding a proper contractor.

Once you have identified some strong home remodeling candidates, do even more checking to ensure that these are the kinds of home remodeling companies with whom you would like to do business.

	Contact Local Consumer Protection Agencies
	Call your Michigan's consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau to find out if there are any unresolved complaints filed against the home remodeling company.
	You should also contact your Michigan's contractor licensing agency and state and local building inspectors to verify that the home remodeling company has the appropriate license(s) and a clean record. You can view Remodeling Remedies by clicking here
	Interview Previous or Present Customers An essential step in your decision-making process is to check a home remodeling company's references. Ask for the names and phone numbers of current and former customers; then take the time to interview them (preferably in their homes so that you can take a look at the home remodeling company's work).

Some of the questions to ask include:

	Would you hire this company again?
	Did the home remodeling company maintain a neat work site?
	Did the crew show up on time? Were you pleased with their work style?
	Was your home remodeling project completed on time and within the budget?
	Was the home remodeling company easy to talk to and did he or she keep you informed as the job progressed?

The Right Fit
Home Remodeling is a very personal process. The home remodeling company you hire will be part of your home life for several weeks or months, so it's important to make sure that your personalities work well together. If, for example, you want to know every detail as the home remodeling project progresses, you probably won't be happy with a home remodeling company given to one-word answers.

The bottom line is: Do you feel comfortable with this individual? A strong rapport and close communication with your home remodeling company will help make any job go well.