Interview Questions for Potential Building Professionals

The following list of questions has been developed in order to assist you, the homeowner in finding out information that could aid in the selection of a contractor or building professional for your new home: • How long has your company been in operation? How long in this area?

• What are your certifications? What makes you qualified to build a home?

• Which professional organizations are you a member of? (We recommend asking for proof of membership) Are you a member of the Chamber of Commerce?

• Are you a licensed contractor? Are you bonded and Insured? (Ask for Bonding certificate and insurance papers)

• Would you be prepared to offer me a detailed estimate for the project? I would like to see materials, labor and other costs broken out in the estimate if possible.

• May I see a copy of your standard contract?

• Do you have a current local worksite that I can visit?

• Have you build this type of home before? Can I see photos of the finished project?

• Have you ever been sued over a project? If so, what happened?

• Will your company do all of the work, or do you hire subcontractors? Do you insure the subcontractors, and if not can I see their insurance papers and licenses as well?

• What other projects are you planning on doing at the same time?

• Can you provide me with a list of references, and do you have a portfolio of your work? Be sure to follow up with the provided references, and ask about the work, the timeframe of completion and the professionalism exhibited by the contractor.

• Are you familiar with the building codes in this particular area, district, etc?

• Is my deadline acceptable? If not, what accommodations would be necessary and if something comes up how can it be best handled?

• What negative situations have occurred before in your projects? This could be shortages of materials, material cost increases, bad weather instances, etc. How did you handle these situations?

• Do you usually end up within 10% of your estimate when the project ends?

• What is your level of guarantee on your work, and will you put it in writing?

• Will you make payments to the subcontractors, or will I pay them directly? What about the materials? If you are paying directly, I would like copies of the payment receipts. Is this a problem?

Meeting with each builder or general contractor that you are considering and taking the time to ask the questions above may give you information which can help you in making the decision to hire, or not to hire, a particular professional. Other things that may result from the interview, such as inadequate insurance or contracts, may assist you in the elimination of potential contractors as well.

We wish you luck in the selection process. And remember, if you don’t find a builder with whom you are happy you should keep looking until you find the right match.

This home building article by:
Michelle McClory with BuildingPlans.com

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