4 Essential Tips for Choosing an Outstanding Contractor for Your Remodel
Transforming your home to a Pinterest-worthy Pacific Northwest pad is a voyage that requires architectural finesse, expert-level knowledge on regional trends and the discerning tastes that define our unique corner of the world. At Crest & Key, we ably navigate these challenges for our remodel and renovation clients. Today we’re sharing a few of our secrets to help you confidently choose a contractor for your remodel who can deliver work that aligns seamlessly with your elevated tastes.
1. Be clear on your project vision (and your partner’s)
A little homework never hurt you before the big exam when you were in school, right? Well, getting your ducks in a row isn’t just for mama Mallards. Pre-work for your remodel means jotting down thoughts on how you want to use the space, any challenges you’re trying to solve for (like a lack of storage), and gathering a few visual examples of spaces that speak your style.
Local home tours (we like Street of Dreams in Oregon), magazines like Domino, Dwell and Architectural Digest, and online platforms like Houzz and Pinterest are all great spots to look for inspiration. If you have a partner who’s tastes diverge from yours, you’ll set yourself up for success by having them go through the same exercise. You should both try to pinpoint a few priorities. Can you live with a light and bright color palette if there are some industrial touches on the hardware and uncluttered surfaces? Can they compromise on cabinetry if they get the carrara countertops of their dreams?
Share both of your styles and any competing desires when speaking with potential firms — a good remodeler will be ready to help you blend your styles seamlessly (think of it as free marriage counseling).
2. Research a list of respected contractors
Dig up everything you can on local contractors, remodel, and design/build firms online and review their online portfolios (or request samples of their work), and if you love a friend or neighbor’s space or style, ask for recommendations. You should be able to check the basics online — you want someone licensed, bonded and insured with good references. Create a shortlist of 4-8 candidates based on their experience, specialties, and previous work. Then, the fun part starts — contact your candidates to see who’s available in your timeframe.
“Pro-tip: be somewhat flexible and think of your project in seasons, not exact weeks and know that the best firms tend to be booked up a bit in advance. (Just because your coworker’s cousin can ‘start tomorrow,’ that’s not necessarily a good sign.)”
Every home remodeling project has surprises that can potentially delay completion, so approach the discussion with the understanding that projects might extend in both time and scope.
Nevertheless, provide your list of potentials with a target completion date to avoid any confusion about your expectations. Be sure to communicate any important events (such as a new baby coming, a month-long trip to Spain, or a family reunion you're hosting) that necessitate completion by a specific date.
3. Face-to-face meetings and examples of work are a must ahead of quotes
Ideally you should meet in the space you’ll be remodeling. If your home is under construction and that’s not possible, bring photos and any drawings you have of the current space. Interviewing your top 3-5 candidates in person is not only crucial, but it’s also the make-or-break way of seeing if these people live up to what you’ve researched about them and how they sounded on phone, text or email.
In these meetings you should be looking for things like:
If anyone pulls a no-show, takes phone calls or texts in front of you, or makes you feel like you don’t know enough, these are all signs that working with them is going to be… challenging. There’s a contractor out there who wants your business, is qualified and is willing to show up and put in the work to win it.
One other watch-out in this phase is the speed of bids — ideally you want these to show up pretty quickly after you meet, but for a big project with a lot of considerations, getting an accurate estimate together can take a couple of days. If someone emails or texts an hour after you meet with a round number and little or no detail, chances are they haven’t put the time in to do a true estimate and you’re likely to see changes when the work actually starts.
Whenever we meet with clients, we make a point of spending time to really understand your project and requirements before making a bid. No one likes surprises during building, and spending the time up front helps us build project proposals that minimize the unexpected.
4. Set your expectations & priorities, then set your budget
The average American spends close to 87% of their time indoors — much of that in their homes. While we’d recommend you reduce that number and take in everything the Northwest has to offer, the reality is that your home is a place where the advice ‘buy nice or buy twice’ really applies.
Once you start getting bids, the lowest one can have a lot of allure. Revisit how you felt about the meetings you had, the level of detail in the bid, and your ultimate design vision before biting on it. Are you confident that the contractor can execute on your dreams, or are you compromising your expectations?
When you start with your expectations and priorities and make sure those are crystal clear, evaluating top contractor choices becomes a refined art, focusing not solely on the allure of the lowest bid but on quality, craftsmanship, and a shared vision.
Interested in a remodel project?
Crest & Key Remodel offers full design & build services in Oregon and Washington, whether you’re refreshing one room or remodeling a whole home. Our expert staff can help bring your vision to life with carefully sourced materials and custom finishes to suit your style.
