Tips & Information

Selecting a Contractor — part three

Questions to Ask During the Interview

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Here are some ideas for questions you might want to ask during the interview.

Questions about their experience and project management:

• Start off by asking to review the items you requested they bring with them.

• What are your qualifications to build this project? What size projects and scope of work have you done?

• Have you built any projects similar to this one?

• How long do you expect a project like this it might take to build?

• How busy is your company? How many projects did you build last year?

• How many of those projects did you have going at the same time?

• What kind of overlap do you plan when finishing one project and getting ready for the next project?

• How many of those projects included working with an architect?

• How do you like working with an architect? What are the positives? Any negatives?

• Are you a member of any professional or business organizations within the community?

Question about them successfully managing subcontractors:

• How long have your subcontractors been working with you?

• Under what circumstances do you bring in a new subcontractor to work on a project? How do you qualify them to guarantee the quality of their work?

• Will any sub-contractors be needed for this project that I will need to hire? (swimming pool, landscape, interior work, etc.) Will you coordinate your work with theirs and do you include that in your fees?

• What insurances do you and your subcontractors carry? What are the limits of the work covered?

• When bidding a project, how many bids do you get per trade?

Other questions:

• If it becomes apparent a change is needed, how do you handle change orders? What is the process and how do you handle the additional cost, fees, etc.?

• Do you provide an owner’s manual at the completion of the project? (Manufacturer’s warranties, product information, sub-contractor contact information, etc.)

• What type of warranties do you give and for how long? Are some items warrantied beyond this time?

• How often do you invoice during a project? (Weekly, twice a month, monthly, by work completed, by material stored?)

• Have you ever been sued by a client?

• Have you filed bankruptcy in the last ten years?

• What questions do you have for me?

Part four - Checking References