Five Questions to Ask When Hiring a San Luis Obispo General Contractor

If you’ve decided to hire a San Luis Obispo general contractor or home builder in San Luis Obispo, congratulations. You’ve taken the first, important step to ensure that your bathroom remodeling project or other home improvement project is done right, using high quality materials and meeting all safety and code standards in the San Luis Obispo area. The next step is to choose the right general contractor for your project. These questions can help you choose the best San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay or Los Osos general contractor for your job.

Are You Licensed?

Every San Luis Obispo, Los Osos or Morro Bay general contractor must be licensed by the state of California to carry out their work. In fact, you shouldn’t even have to ask the question, since the law requires that the contractor’s license number be displayed on the company’s trucks and in any type of advertising that it does. Do ask, though, and write down the license number so you can check it online at the licensing board website or call the California licensing board to ask.

Do You and Your Employees/Subcontractors Have Any Certifications?

In addition to the required state license, a general contractor may hold or may employ subcontractors who hold specialized certifications or have special training. If your bathroom remodel will include plumbing or electrical wiring, for example, you want to be sure that the people who do those parts of the job have the required professional licenses, education and certifications. The best San Luis Obispo general contractor companies will proudly offer any and all certifications and specialized training they have.

Will You Be Doing the Work or Hiring Someone Else to Do It?

If the general contractor you hire will be hiring others to do the work or contracting it out to others, you want to know that they’ll be supervising the work very closely. Many companies hire low-pay trainees to do the work to save costs, but fail to provide the necessary supervision to ensure that everything is done right. When it comes to bathroom remodeling, even small mistakes can cause huge problems – and huge expenses – down the road, so be sure you hire a San Luis Obispo general contractor that will do the work right the first time.

Will You Handle the Permits for Me?

A San Luis Obispo bathroom remodel may require special permits or call for an inspection before the job is complete and you can use your new bathroom. Homeowners may not be aware of the requirements, but they will be held responsible for following them. An experienced Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo or Los Osos general contractor knows exactly which permits and inspections are required for each type of work and will make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the work is done legally and safely. When the contractor handles all the legalities, it frees up your time and makes the work run more smoothly from start to finish – just one more reason it makes sense to hire a professional local general contractor for your job.

Does Your Estimate Cover Everything Needed for the Job?

Everyone has heard nightmare stories about the little bathroom remodel that turned into a six-month-long nightmare. Far too often, a low estimate from a contractor means that the company has left out important details that will cost you extra money. Insist on a detailed, itemized bid that includes the costs of all fixtures and materials. If you have specific requirements – a particular model of light fixtures or shower configuration, make sure that it is specified in the bid. Give special consideration to a San Luis Obispo general contractor who discusses possible complications, such as hidden mold or illegal plumbing configurations – that might add to the estimate, and explains how or if it will affect the cost of the job.

Asking these questions of each San Luis Obispo general contractor you interview will help you choose the best contractor to handle your job and ensure that you get the beautiful, updated bathroom you envision.