9 Questions to Ask a Contractor That Could Make or Break the Deal

You won’t have trouble finding house contractors in the Philippines if you’re planning to renovate a part of your house or you want to fulfill having a dream house of your own. Their ads are littered everywhere, from the yellow pages, online listings and even around the dilapidated office building nearby. But be wary though because you might pick the bad apple from the tree.

Yes, they’re out there, just waiting for you to seal the deal with them and take advantage of your status as a first-timer. What are the right questions to ask that could lead you to finding the right contractor? At this stage, you already know what you want to renovate or have envisioned what your dream home would look like. The problem is you’re clueless of what to ask them.

But before we turn into sleuths, here are the three tasks you need to do first according to Angie’s List:

• Narrow down your choices to three contractors. The more options the better. Having trouble finding house contractors in the Philippines? The best source is your neighbours, family members and friends who have been in that situation. They’ve been there so they know what to do. You could also look online for credible reviews.
• Determine the true costs of the materials. You will find this list on the contractor’s bid. It often includes the color, model, size, and brand, tells Consumer Information of the US Federal Trade Commission. The material’s price, which is sometimes broken down to quantity, unit and price. Call the supplier and find out if the contractor’s mark-up is reasonable.
•  How long did they deliver the estimate to you? Why does this matter? As explained by Angie’s List, “if a contractor tells you that he or she will have the estimate by next Tuesday, but doesn’t actually get it to your until Friday, this is likely a reflection of his or her work on the job as well.” At this point, you have an initial assessment of the work ethic of the contractor.

Now, for the Q and A portion with your contractor:

• Are you working on a project at this moment? Don’t rejoice if he answers, “No, I’m quite free,” because it just reflects he is not in demand and not the one sought after among his peers. On the other hand, a busy contractor gives good signals. Cannon Christian, president of Renovation Realty in San Diego, says on US News Money, “The best folks are the busy ones.” This leads to the next question… 
• If you’re so busy right now, who will be your second in command while you’re gone? That would be the foreman. So better schedule an impromptu site visit on the project they’re currently at to have a little chit-chat and inspection.
• How long have you been in this business? Experience still counts.
• Are you and your subcontractors licensed? This will determine the legitimacy of the contractor and his team.
• Are you insured? Consumer Information of US Federal Trade Commission says contractors must carry a personal liability; worker’s compensation; and property damage coverage. Contractors should be the one liable to their workers, not you.
• What is your line of expertise? Is the contractor more on traditional homes or modern-types of homes? Check out his portfolio to review some of his works. This is simply like comparing apples to apples.
• May we ask for references or list of your past clients? Back out once he shakes his head no. It only means there are skeletons in his closet that he doesn’t want you to find out.
• How long does it take to acquire permits? If he says, we could skip on it or, worse, you could handle it on your own, politely decline his services. Completion of permits is a contractor’s job and it should be diligently done.
• What is your stand on mechanic’s lien? You’re lucky if he says he is against it and assures you he has funds to go through this project. What is a mechanic’s lien? It pretty sums up to: you’re the one who is going to pay the unpaid bills. How to avoid it? FindLaw suggests paying with joint checks or getting a lien waiver. Also, keep all receipts and paperwork in one neat file.

More importantly, don’t be afraid or hesitate to ask questions because a single overlooked mistake will cause a lot of heartache to you once you signed the dotted line with one of the house contractors in the Philippines that have a poor record.