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Haw to choose a contractor? This theoretically simple job, make some of the people sleepless and create most unpleasant experience for life. Way? The are many factors and reasons and as experienced and very successful contractor, I will try to explain the entire process.
In order to help as many people, as possible to make every project a pleasure journey and avoid costly mistakes and nightmare.
So let’s begin. We have idea to fix, change or improve something in our house.
Well this idea is always, first in our head. We know what we want, but haw it should be done, is a separate thing. As I mention “We know” the problem is we have to get the others know well, what we know. And most of the people make in here first mistake.
Most of us call contractor and explain in our words, what we expect.
The fact is, we just have a vision and every single person in the world will see our vision differently. No matter what the project is and haw big it is, we should put our words on paper. Even a one minute hand written list is hundred percent better than a ten hours of talking. For example to keep this in short, let’s imagine we have in mind, remodeling our bathroom. We want to replace everything. Well it should be simple yes?
Yes is simple we put on our list few columns and in the first: toilet, vanity, tiles, tub, floor, mirror, towel bar and etc, whatever else we have. This simple list will be in not too far future our life saver and we will come back to it. As we prepare with our list we came to shopping for our contractor.
They’re a plenty of adds in phone book, local flyers and penny saver periodicals, but as our grandma use to say the good quality doesn’t need advertisement. So speaking loud to our neighbors, family and hardware stores owners about our future project is a good practice. A good contractor performing job on the next street, allow us to talk and see his work. At what aspects we should focus our research at this time is: clean professional looking vans, droop clothes, solid and used tools. Yes you see right used not brand new tools, transparent and well exposed phone number on all vehicles.
As we approach to speak with our future contractor, the most important fact we have to figure out is his attitude. Remember he will have access to you house for the next several days and practically he will live in your house. If you will not see on his face smile and attention now, probably you will not smile at the end of the project too. You explain idea to and give him you list. I forgot to mention a copy of you list, because you should repeat this with as many candidates in the shortest period of time as possible.
What now? We wait for our quotes. Mean time is always a good idea to find with your local village, town, and administration if any, if they require a permit. The rules vary from town to town and some time, are very confusing. Some money hungry buildings department makes everything to make our life harder, asking us to wait for the permit a months, pay for every inspection and require additional cost and time consuming not always necessary tasks. Like additional insulation, special material pipes and electrician to replace just one electric outlet. This is way many people take the risk to be catch and avoid this step, which is OK if live in dead end street, but main street or road?
I cant advise anything in this field and living this decision to every reader consideration.

After a week, we should have a response from our contractors. Haw do we choose now the right one. Unfortunately most of the people look at the bottom number and make their decision on base of the smallest number. This is completely wrong.
Not a numbers but the way haw they are present is important.
First we could put right in the garbage bin the hand writhen notes with the total price only.
If someone doesn’t have a computer to print your estimate it means is not updated with the current materials and methods in trade. Than he or she did not put any effort and time to yours project now, do you think he will gave too much attention to the job?
The same way as you put on paper item after item in you bathroom, should look estimate.
Ideal way and the good practice witch I used for last twenty years is a separate itemized list of all work tasks and material items. Way? Did you specify the model and make of toilet you would like to install? Haw about tub, vanity? The are at list 3 major brands with a list tens of different standard fixtures. Haw do you and contractor know now which you will like, which will match best and which one you can afford? The same size standard tub or toilet depending on the company and store may vary from one hundred to two thousands dollars. If you contractor is specify price for each fixture and is giving you choice on computer printed form, you may close you eyes and say I get it. Now is easy to communicate with him about price, quality and details. Remember ninety nine percent of problems with construction projects came when there is lack of communication in details.
If you are more interested in this what I’m trying to explain you may ask questions on our blog We will be more than happy to share my experience advice and help. Janusz

	Ivan Tsuhan Owner – President. European construction specialist. Over 20 years in USA, with thousands