Remodeling your home is an investment. As you begin the planning process, there are few important steps you should take to ensure that your investment is a smart one.
(See green text for Culligan comments)
Get the names of contractors from:
- Friends or family that have had work completed in the past and were completely satisfied with the experience. References from happy Culligan Construction customers account for almost 85% of our annual production.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau. (http://denver.bbb.org) Culligan Construction has been a member of the BBB for over 20 years. We were nominated for the prestigious “Torch Award” in 2007.
- Check with the NARI – http://www.nari.org/Culligan/ Culligan Construction is a proud member to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
Verify License
- In Colorado a contractor must carry a builder’s license for every city and county that they work in. (Be wary of any contractor that asks you to pull a “Homeowner Permit”) Culligan Construction will always pull permits for projects as per local building code
Get References
- Always ask for references from any contractor you are considering
- Ask for names and address of customers in your area who have had similar work done. Culligan’s customer data base goes back as far as 1972. I’m sure we can find a few references in your area.
- Make sure the contractor has a permanent business location and telephone number. Culligan Construction‘s office is located in “Old Town Arvada” in a historic building owned by Dennis Culligan.
Put your ideas on paper
(Here you have a choice: Hire an architect or Hire a Design/Build company)
Hire an architect to design your project.
- Architects tend to be reluctant to work on residential remodel projects under $300,000.
- The remodel design budget tends to be low in proportion to the intense effort required by the architect
- They design your project without input from a construction professional because you haven’t picked your contractor yet
- You specify a budget that doesn’t even begin allow the architect to demonstrate their artistic genius. You end up with beautiful project design that you can afford to build
- Then you select a 3 or 4 contractor to bid and price war begins
- The odds are already stacked against you because the project can’t be completed within your budget.
- Any remodel contractor that does high quality work will lose in the bidding process and you will be forced to select the lowest bidder hope for the best.
Hire a Design/Build company (like Culligan Construction)
- One stop shopping for cost-effective, quality, custom design and construction services
- Design fees are substantially less
- Designs are dictated by need and budget, not ego.
- A seamless process with one company taking responsibility for everything.
- No discrepancies between contractor and Architect (which the homeowner ultimately pay for)
- You spend your precious time working with your contractors to design a project that meets your needs and your budget.
- You don’t have to start your project with the overwhelming stress associated with failed interpretation of multiple contractor estimates.
- You get what you want!
Get a Contract
The written contract should include:
- The company name, address, phone number\Detailed list of work to be completed
- A statement that all required building permits and variances will be obtained by the contractor before work is begun. The building permit is for your protection: Building inspectors verify that all work is completed as per building code.
- Obtain a certificate of liability insurance and worker’s Compensation
- A statement of warranty
- Payment terms
- A “right to cancel” clause. If you are solicited and sign the contract in your home, you have three (3) days in which to cancel the contract if you change your mind. You must send the contractor a registered letter stating you wish to cancel.
- Both contractor and homeowner must sign and date the contract
- Make sure you receive a copy of the contract.
Paying the Contractor
- Never pay for the entire project in advance!
- Make a deposit when work begins to cover materials and startup costs. Make the check payable to the company listed on the contract and get a receipt.
- Prior to final payment, make sure your project has passed the final building inspection so that your permit can be closed out properly.
Resolving Problems
- If you have problems, try to resolve them with the contractor prior to making the final payment.
- If you have problems, try to resolve them with the contractor prior to making the final payment.
- Your contractor should offer arbitration through the BBB or other associations like the NARI or NAHB
