Absolutely. This is the best way to insure that the contractor you are considering is up to your expectations. Always ask about the contractor's honesty, thoroughness, timeliness, craftsmanship, the quality of his or her employees and subcontractors, how he handled problems (which almost always arise) and how easy he or she was to work with. Try to set up an appointment to see the work and meet the past client.

Whenever we give out referrals, I try to give out names of past customers for whom we did jobs that are similar in scope and complexity to the one the new potential client is considering. I usually give out three or four names and list how long ago we did the job and what the job entailed. I will often give out names of people we worked for eight or nine years ago as well as some recent jobs that we have completed.

I try to rotate the names I give out so that people aren't calling the same past clients all the time. This way the potential client can be comfortable calling them, knowing that the past customer won't be annoyed with having been called too many times recently.

When you check the job out, pay close attention to the quality of the work, because your job won't be any better. So if you're not pleased with what you see, be assured that you won't be pleased with your job either.

Sometimes (that is usually) there is a difference in "taste" between you and the previous customer, so realize that if it's the color of the Corian, or the wood species of the cabinets that you don't like, yours can and will be different. But if the sheetrock texture is sloppy and the mitre joints are gapping, or the quality of the cabinet finish is poor, this reflects on the attention to detail of the person in charge-the contractor.

By the way, I once had a nationally known consultant and remodeler tell me, "No one can do a one hundred percent perfect job that is affordable. Ninety six percent is doable however." I remind you, a "96" is still an "A" and if you see four jobs that are "96's" that is a "four-point" contractor. You can feel good about his or her quality of work.

Also, you might consider asking the contractor to see one of his or her jobs in progress. Pay attention to the amount of debris laying around (especially if it is after working hours) and the way the job is tarped off from the living areas and secured against the elements. This may also give you a good chance to meet "the guys" (or gals) who will be working on your job too. They are an important part of the whole equation.

Sometimes homeowners do parts of their own projects, (especially painting or things like tile work). If you see unprofessional looking painting, or tile or trim work, you might ask if the contractor did that part of the job. Be tactful though! You don't want to get thrown out on your ear for insulting the owner's work!

Another good question to ask referrals is how did the contractor do following up on any warranty work? All contractors must warranty their work for one year, and there shouldn't be any problem getting them to come back to adjust things or fix something that was overlooked. If the contractor is concerned about repeat business, he or she will take good care of his past customers.

This varies tremendously with the scope of the work, and sometimes with the weather or other complications. When the economy is booming and the weather is good, contractors are at their busiest, and that includes subcontractors. Therefore, sometimes scheduling can be more difficult in the height of Summer and one little missed deadline or subcontractor not finishing when planned, can throw off the projected completion date. A good schedule depends on everyone following through or there can be a domino effect during the hectic building season.

There are some generalizations that may apply to time frames for specific kinds of jobs however:
An addition may take three or four months. A kitchen two or three months. An interior project or a bathroom will be one to two months-generally speaking! If there is a lot of structural work, an interior job will take more time, and if there is a lot of detail to be installed whether in cabinetry, trim, tile, or any phase of construction, obviously the job will go longer.

It's not uncommon for an ordered part to come damaged , defective or just plain wrong! When this happens, it can also prolong the job. One must realize that the contractor is coordinating dozens of people and components and this is an art-not a science. (Is anything a science?!) Whenever there are people involved (especially people other than me-yeah right!) there is the chance something can go amiss.

I used to work in Seattle and I worked for a lot of Boeing engineers. One engineer once told me a fable that illustrates the type of difficulties that affect scheduling: The first 747 took a year to build, the second six months, and the third took three months. Since then they all take two months. The more repetitive the work the easier it becomes. However, in remodeling, every job is different, and all the "bugs" have got to be worked out as-you-go. It's like building a 747 for the first time every time. Patience is a good quality for anyone to have who is involved in remodeling.

State law states you have to sign a contract if the project is over $1000.00. The best contract includes detailed specifications and a completed plan. This protects everyone, and saves a lot of questions and frustrations down the road.

We will normally provide the preliminary design before signing a document, and we will write up three to ten pages of specifications on a normal project. These specifications address every single element of the project and they are broken into fifty separate "phases" so that we don't miss anything important. I have been using the same system for over fifteen years, so I've got it down pretty well. We often forget a small item or two, but the major issues are addressed and discussed.

The actual contract we use is a simple two page document that I've been using for over ten years. Many attorneys have signed it with no modification whatsoever, and I once had a law professor and customer compliment me on the actual document. If lawyers will sign it without hesitation, I guess it must be a fair contract. The document is available for anyone who is considering hiring us to peruse prior to signing.

In addition to the plans, specifications and contract, there are several other documents that the Federal and State governments require to be signed. One is a three day right of recission, which states that the customer has three business days to cancel the contract without penalty. Another is a form which explains the state lien laws so the customer is informed of his or her legal rights and obligations.

A third form which all contractors are required to provide homeowners is one that explains the licensing procedures for contractors in Oregon or Washington. This form does not need to be signed, but I always have the customers initial a copy for my own files, certifying that they have received it.

These documents are essential and/or required to be a part of a remodeling agreement. Any contractor that does not provide these is either dishonest, ignorant, or disorganized and should be avoided like the plague.

Also, never pay a contractor in full before he has finished the job! (Duh.) I haven't ever asked to be paid in full before I have completed everything I said I would do in writing. I have heard lots of horror stories about trusting customers who paid their contractors and the job was never finished and they never saw the guy again. I always have a five or ten percent retainage at the end of the job to help the client feel secure that he or she is going to get the job done the way they want it done.