Tips on How to Hire a Contractor in Victoria When Building Your Home

At some point, many homeowners in Victoria will consider building their dream home, and some will eventually to go ahead with it. During the process, you will need help from many professionals including real estate agents, removalists and bankers, but no roles are more important than that of the building contractor. For a project as big as starting a home from scratch, hiring a good contractor is essential in order to get the work done properly and achieve the results you desire. Here are a few tips that will help you choose the right contractor, and to help you along the building process.

Finding and Choosing a Contractor

Start your search by shopping around a bit. Good sources for reputable names are from friends, family and neighbours who have had good experiences, or from home builder associations, building supply stores or the Internet. Talk directly to a few contractors and discuss your project to hear their suggestions as to how they would do the work, and ask for a rough cost estimate at the first meeting. Kit homes in Victoria are also a popular option to discuss as they could save you money. Bring a list of questions to ask them about their work experience, and get a feel for what it is like to communicate with them. Getting a few references to check some of their finished work will help make your decision.

Get an Estimate

There are no hard and fast rules as to how many estimates you should get. Give a few different contractors the details and specifications you want, and allow them a few weeks to draw up their estimate. Make time to discuss their plan with them and ensure they included everything you asked for so you have an accurate idea of the cost and the project time frame that is expected. It’s important to be objective when considering each contractor’s estimate and not just go with the one that offers the lowest price: you should be willing and able to spend the money that will ensure you get the job done right.

Protect Yourself

There are a lot of ways you can protect yourself during the building process. Be suspicious of contractors who want to work in cash, or that don’t offer you a formal contract which could mean that they are uninsured or unlicensed. A cash deal will also leave you with no legal recourse if something goes wrong during building. Become familiar with Consumer Protection Laws before the work begins, and make sure you have the necessary homeowner insurance that will cover you and the workers on the job site.

Get it in Writing

Everything that was ever agreed upon by you and you contractor needs to be written down. No matter the size of your project, you must agree on a formal contract that includes information such as the names and addresses of both you and the contractor, detailed description of the work and all the materials involved, a clause stating that the work will conform to all building safety standards, start and completion dates as well as the price and payment schedule. When the job is finished, your contractor will want you to sign a Completion Certificate, but don’t sign it until you have inspected the work and are satisfied that everything is finished.