Friday, February 28th, 2014 by Danny Peterson
Have you ever wondered what the 5 biggest problems with bathroom remodeling contractors are? Baltimore homeowners shouldn’t have to worry about dealing with shoddy workmanship, a botched project, or a ruined bathroom. Before hiring your next contractor to turn your bathroom into your favorite hideaway, use these tips to help sniff out a bad contractor before you get in over your head.
#1 Requiring too much money too early
One of the 5 biggest problems with bathroom remodeling contractors is asking for more than 33 percent up front. This is the guideline from the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. After initial costs, additional charges should generally be related to big milestones, such as completing plumbing, electricity, or framing work, or finishing the project. Costs shouldn’t be tied to dates, but rather, achievements.
#2 No standard contract
Your bathroom contractor should have a standard contract to work from. Another one of most common problems with contractors is not offering a quality written contract. A reputable professional won’t be afraid to put things in writing, but a sketchy contractor will shy away from putting almost anything in ink.
#3 Vague deadlines
It is important for you to be able to talk with your contractor about deadlines. A good professional should be able to give you at least an idea of how long a project will take. If they don’t seem to know, this is a red flag. Another common problem with contractors is offering insufficient information on a timeline. If they don’t seem to have any idea about how long the project should take, it might indicate they haven’t ever done this type of work in the past, and may not even be qualified to do it at all.
#4 Poor communication skills
As a homeowner, you might not be a building expert, but you have every right to know what’s happening with your project. It is your contractor’s duty to clearly communicate information about the remodeling to you. Vague communication, or communication that is difficult to understand, means your contractor is failing to do an important part of his or her job. Furthermore, a missed call is bound to happen on occasion. But a constant lack of communication is completely different, and entirely unacceptable.
#5 Problems with permits
Another one of the 5 biggest problems with bathroom remodeling contractors? Baltimore homeowners, all too often, have had to deal with contractors who don’t understand local area permits. If a contractor suggests you handle the permits on your own, it might be a big red flag. It could indicate they are less experienced than they seem. For a new contractor, this might be acceptable. However, they should want to learn about the permitting process for your job, and for their jobs in the future. When choosing a professional, listen to your intuition and check the facts to avoid big problems with your contractor. When it comes time to start a project, use these guidelines to look for red flags, and avoid the 5 biggest problems with bathroom remodeling contractors to get your project done quickly, affordably, and stress-free.
