What to Consider When Hiring ADU Contractors in Westminster?

When considering renovating and revamping your housing space, people need to be aware of the multiple problems that can arise from taking on such an extensive project. A lot of things need to be taken into consideration when thinking about a renovation project such as garage conversion, additional housing unit, new flooring or even a kitchen makeover.

Building an additional housing unit, ADU, can be an extensive task in Westminster. In a way, the ADU is a representation of you and your home towards upcoming guests. Hence, the level of care and consideration needed when building an ADU is similar if not the same to as when you are building your own house. You must put in effort to find the best contractor for your ADU project, just as you would find the best builder for your house for the best results. You must be careful when choosing the best ADU builder for you in Westminster because there are numerous options available with different skills and expertise. By conducting thorough research in your area towards finding the best suited ADU builder in Westminster will make sure that your money and time doesn’t go to waste.

This blog will explore the different aspects you should consider when hiring ADU contractors in Westminster.

What to Look for When Choosing ADU Contractors?

Experience 

Experience in the construction industry is one of the key factors when it comes to choosing contractors. Newer contractors may seem just as good as the experienced ones, but they may not be able to handle strict timelines or be adept towards dealing with newly raised issues.

Whereas an experienced contractor will have hands on experience and will be more suited to deal with any issues that come up and avoid them altogether through his expert process. Apart from knowing exactly what needs to be done, experienced contractors are much more capable to adapt to your needs or any changes that might occur during the construction process.

Construction can be very tedious with a lot of focus on details here and there, so you want to make sure that your contractor is experienced enough to handle all the workload and nuances that may come with it. For this project, an ideal contractor would have at least five years of building experience which you can check on their resume or check in with their past customers.

Reputation 

An experienced contractor will have developed some sort of reputation in the area over the course of their projects. Online reviews are a great place to start when it comes to finding reputable contractors. You can also ask for recommendations within your community, from friends or family who have recently undergone construction work or renovation.

When it comes to finding a reputable contractor, online reviews are a great place to start. You can also ask for recommendations from friends or family members who have had recent construction work done.

It is important for you to go through the reviews carefully and notice any red flags or bad reviews that come up. As a rule, you should steer clear of a contractor if they have more bad reviews than they have good ones. A good contractor will have primarily good reviews, and rarely any bad reviews.

You can also check for the contractor’s license and insurance. This step will protect you from any legal issues that might come up in the future and cover any accidental fees for your project.

Professionalism

The manner in which potential contractors present themselves to you speaks volumes of their professional conduct. During the first meeting you have with potential contractors, take note of how they conduct themselves and how they have dressed, whether it is professional or not.

A contractor who takes out the time to dress neatly and present themselves in a professional manner is much more likely to take their work seriously. Their day-to-day conduct reflects the amount of dedication they have towards their work. This is important when entrusting an individual with such a big project.

Furthermore, you need to also be aware of the way the contractor communicates to you and others around him. A good contractor will be able to explain things clearly, give instructions easily and be able to answer any question without hesitation. If they come across as evasive and unsure of themselves, its probably in your best interest to move on to someone else.

Licensed Professionals

As previously mentioned, finding a professional contractor that is licensed and insured is important. This will help protect you from any legal issues that might come up in the future and give you peace of mind that you are in trusted hands.

A licensed contractor has gone through a variety of necessary steps to get their qualification for the job. This means that they would have to pass a series of exams and complete and certain amount of training including all the necessary safety training before being granted their license.

Having an insured contractor is important too because it protects you and your investment in case anything goes wrong during the construction process. As their business is protected, this will give you peace of mind knowing that you won’t be held liable for any accidents or damages that might occur.

Reference Calls

Once you have researched your potential list of contractors and shortlisted it to your needs, it is time to make a few calls. For each contractor you have shortlisted, ask for a list of references you can contact.

This list of reference will serve as a testimony of past customers of the contractor so you can take an in-depth view of their work before you finalize your builder. Make sure to call each reference on the list and ask them about their experience with the contractor. Take note of how they describe working with the contractor and how satisfied they are with the results.

As a rule, again, if you get mostly positive reviews and most customers are satisfied, you can be confident that the contractor is reliable. However, if there are mostly negative reviews and rarely a good one, its probably better for you to look elsewhere.

Past Portfolio

The past portfolio of a contractor is the collection of previously completed projects by them. It is important that you ask the potential contractors to see their portfolio. This will give you a reasonable idea of the quality of their work, the kind of projects they are capable of handling and their signature expertise, if any.

Take note of all the details in each project and analyze the quality of the finished product. A high-quality service would ensure the finished product to look like it was well-crafted. If you’re impressed with what you see, then you can be reassured that the contractor will do a high-quality job on your own project too.

However, if the portfolio is lacking in quality or variety, it is probably best for you to discuss your concerns and apprehensions with them.

Reliability

One of the most important qualities to for in a contractor is reliability or dependability. This means that they will show up on time, finish the job in time and give you an impeccable hassle-free service.

It is important to spend the time and effort in finding a contractor who you can trust to get the job done right. Otherwise, you are running at the risk of having to deal with delays, subpar work and high blood pressure.

The references provided or the available online reviews can be a good source to get an idea of the contractor’s reliability and dependability. You should also inquire them about their business policies in case of any delays and unforeseen circumstances. Lastly, if your contractor shows up late on the first day of job, it is not a good sign so look out for the small signs.

Pricing

Considering the cost of the project is also an essential part of choosing a contractor. Make sure to get a few different estimates before finalizing your decision.

Make sure to be wary of any hidden fees or additional costs that might not be included in the estimate. Inquire the contractor about any discounts or special rates that they may offer.

The pricing should not be the sole factor to consider when choosing a contractor. However, it is important for you to make sure that you are getting a fair price in consideration to the work that is to be done.

If you’re looking for reliable and qualified ADU contractors in Westminster, then be sure to keep these things in mind. With a little bit of research, you’ll be able to find someone who meets all your needs and expectations and delivers you with an ADU of your dreams.

ADUS | City List for ADU & Garage Conversion Services

We offer our affordable ADU services in Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Palma, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Newport Beach, Orange, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Sunset Beach, Surfside, Tustin, Westminster, Yorba Linda, and Rossmoor, CA. along with some surrounding areas.

- Visit our ADU Frequently Asked Questions page for lots of great info about AUDs. -