7 Step Checklist for Hiring a Contractor

By LP Building Solutions. 

Follow this expert guidance to find the best contractor for your home. 

So, you are ready to start working on your home, but don’t quite know where to start? Have no fear! Hiring a contractor can make a huge difference in figuring out the process and the steps that come with re-siding or renovating your home. Follow this checklist, full of expert guidance, to connect yourself with the right contractor who will work with you and your budget to achieve a look for your home you will love:

1 - Do your own research: Before hiring a contractor for your reside project, take a moment to look into options for siding materials and determine your budget. Think through what you can spend for the cost to put siding on a house and consider priorities for siding materials. 

2 - Use online tools and resources to select a contractor: Take advantage of the many online tools that can help to connect you to the right contractor for the right price. LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding, for example, offers the Find a Contractor directory to connect homeowners with trained & experienced LP SmartSide Preferred Contractors. Visit LPCorp.com/Request-a-Quote to find local SmartSide Preferred Contractors in your area. 

3 - Schedule interviews: Choose a few contractors and set up times to discuss your project. By meeting safely in person or connecting over a video call, you can get important questions answered and determine whether you want to move forward. 

Before you hire a contractor for re-siding, there are a few questions for contractors that will be helpful during your initial conversations. Starting conversations about the following topics can be useful for hiring the right contractor and getting the look you want for your home:

• Proof of business license. Ensure your contractor is local to your area and registered with the proper licensing systems and state requirements. 

• Insurance credentials. How is your contractor protected in case of accidents or mishaps on the jobsite (your home)? 

• References and examples of their work. Ideally, they’ll be eager to show you work they’re proud of that showcases the material you’ve chosen and connect you with happy customers. 

• Experience levels with the material you are interested in using. Make sure your contractor has adequate familiarity with the siding material you have chosen. 

• Upcoming timeline and current projects to see when yours could begin. A contractor may be booked solid for a few months or have immediate openings. 

• Communication preferences. Do they communicate via email? Text? A user portal? Be sure you know how to get in touch. 

4 - Research references: Look into each contractor’s previous work. See if there are any homes in the area they’ve remodeled and check out what those homes look like. Make sure the contractor you choose has a history of great work. 

5 - Discuss your goals and budget: Be sure to talk about your project goals and your budget to get an initial sense if each contractor can complete the job for the price you need. 

6 - Pay attention to communication: Throughout the pre-work of choosing a contractor, keep an eye out for communication worries. Is the contractor you’re considering quick to respond, or are there long gaps between the times you talk? You want to hire someone who is easily accessible and attentive to your project. 

7 - Start the partnership: Now that you know how to hire a contractor, choose the siding expert you believe is best to complete your re-side project. Start making plans, select materials and get the job started! 

Got your contractor? Time to re-side with LP SmartSide Trim and Siding 

When you’re re-siding your home, you’ll want to choose a product that is durable, versatile and beautiful. LP SmartSide engineered wood siding checks all the boxes and more. Available pre-primed or in 16 prefinished colors, LP SmartSide Trim & Siding is made with the SmartGuard® process, which gives it four components of protection to resist hail, wind, moisture, fungal decay and termites. It’s also easier to install than other siding materials, which means your contractor may be able to complete your re-side faster. 

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Original article source: LP Building Solutions