Building a home is exciting. The time has come and now you have to choose the right custom home builder to make your dream into reality. There are many factors you should consider when choosing a contractor, and those are not just about cost. Alair Homes Sanibel understands that the person you are trusting will build your future home, and that requires research. These tips can guide you to a credible contractor in Sanibel.
Licensed, Bonded and Insured
Chances are, you’ve heard these terms bounced around a lot if you’ve been planning on hiring a custom home builder, but not everyone understands what exactly they mean. Bonded means they have taken out a specific type of insurance that protects you, the property owner, if they do not finish the job. If a contractor is not insured, you, as the property owner, will be liable if any of the workers are injured on-site during construction. A licensed contractor is one who has taken an exam to prove they know building codes and basic practices. This is required by law in Sanibel, so as you can imagine, if they are a trustworthy general contractor, they will be following the law and able to show you their license number.
Choose Local
There are many benefits to hiring locally if you are looking for a custom home builder in Sanibel. Local contractors know the closest suppliers and experts, and typically have a network of electricians, plumbers, and other experts who may come in as part of the project. It may also be possible to look at other homes nearby that they have built so you get a feel for the finished work. If possible, go to a worksite that is currently in progress so you can see if this is the type of set-up that you want to see around your property. A few example of things to look for is that the site is clean, well-organized, and everyone is doing their job efficiently and safely.
Trust Experience and Recommendations
Friends, family, and co-workers are all sources of good tips for contractors. But if you do not know anyone who has had this type of work done in the area before, you can still get objective recommendations for a trustworthy general contractor from other people in the industry. Your local lumber yard may have business cards or suggestions of who to call for your project, and the local building inspector or their website would have a list of licensed contractors on file. Generally, the longer they have been around your area, the more you can trust that they will be doing the job right.
Go With Your Instincts
First impressions matter. Sometimes our gut reaction to a contractor is the best one. When you are searching for a trustworthy general contractor, you can keep it simple. While the contractor was explaining the way they would do the project, offering an estimate, and discussing your ideas, are they being specific and honest about the costs and time frame? If you are getting the feeling that there is something off about the conversation or the contractor, the feeling probably is not going to go away after they start doing the job, and it may even get worse. Always choose one that you feel like you can trust from the beginning.