Hiring a contractor

[Tom Bender]

Say you want a gazebo built. Before calling contractors, define just what you want, on paper. Visit some examples. Print some pictures from the internet. Make a sketch or your yard to scale and show the footprint and the drip line. Will you need grading? How will it be supported, foundation, posts in the ground, posts in concrete? What will keep it in your yard in a windstorm? Do you want electricity? How about a path or at least a stepping stone at the entrance, and maybe some landscaping?

Having all this as resolved as you can will make the rest of the process go much better.

[lowell holmes]

I was a home builder in an earlier life. I suggest you drive around and look for home construction underway.
I'm sure the contractor will be happy to talk to you.

[Lee Schierer]

Most important get a written/signed contract with the contractor stating exactly what will be built, materials used, time for completion, warranty if any and the firm cost. Good contractors should not need any money down nor progress payments. Never in any case pay for materials in advance. Ask for and actually check several references.

[Al Launier]

Also, make sure the contractor is totally insured for him/her and his/hear workers for any damage to your property, for any & all liability, and for workman's compensation for himself/herself and their workers as appropriate.
References from those he has provided service and touch base with the local building inspector to see if there are any concerns.
If the contractor should sub-contract any of the work, you should get a lien waiver from those he hired to assure you he has paid them before you pay him.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Most important get a written/signed contract with the contractor stating exactly what will be built, materials used, time for completion, warranty if any and the firm cost. Good contractors should not need any money down nor progress payments. Never in any case pay for materials in advance. Ask for and actually check several references.

I disagree on the money, it's bad business practice for a good contractor to invest all required funds in a project on blind faith of payment. Trust but verify. There are a bunch of different ways to do this, but down payments and progress payments are legit risk management tools. New home builds typically are funded via a mortgage that gets dispersed via progress or monthly billing through an escrow account and title company. This is completely legit and standard operating practice. Ideally the risk of nonpayment and the risk of non performance should be evenly split between customer and contractor. The bigger the job the more important this is. A customer would be at least partially protected by buying at least some materials from a contractors lien position, and a contractor is protected from an unscrupulous customer that never intended to pay the bill.

[Jim Becker]

I agree with Steve...no good contractor (IE, one that wants to stay in business) is going to do work without a payment schedule that includes a deposit and, if appropriate to the size of the job, progress payments. Yes, documentation of progress needs to be in the contract for progress payments to be made, but it's pretty normal for major work to be handled that way and even more important when a GC has subcontractors that have to be paid upon completion of their work. Really small jobs such as minor repairs? Yea, they come, they do the work, they get paid immediately. But actual projects are a more formal thing. I don't do much on-site type work, but regardless, my standard ask for what I do is 50% down so at least my material cost is covered. And for my business, that deposit is non-refundable, clearly spelled out on the invoice.

[Jerome Stanek]

I always required half down and if the job was more then 3 weeks I would get draws. That way I was covered if they didn't pay at the end. I only had one customer that was bad at paying and I only did one job for him. I did let others know that he was slow paying and they would not do any work for him CVS finally stepped in and revoke his preferred status until everyone was paid.

[Wade Lippman]

I agree with much of what was said (but what was the question?) but... for my last construction project, I got 4 quotes. I hired the guy who told me my concept was completely wrong, and told me what I should do. He was most certainly right.

And, just for your amusement... 30 years ago my contractor ignored my architect's plans and cut every corner he could. My lawyer told me to document that I complained about everything, but not to fire him, as my house was open to the weather and unlivable, and a lien would make ruin my life. I sort of won the law suite, but only in small part. The judge explained that it is unreasonable to expect a contractor to follow the contract. So have fun with your project.