Choosing A Contractor
 

I read the fact and I think the guide lines to choose a contractor are pretty simple.
I think there are few things that are fundamental when contracting someone...
- Check with your friends and family to see if they know about this contractor... Look for feedback about their work and professionalism.
- Check if you need a permit or not to do get the work done.
- Sign a contract. This way the work will get done under the law and it is easier to take care of legal matters.

Thank you. That seems like a really useful FAQ. This is the kind of information I require to improve my game!

How to pick a Renovator - a Different Perspective
 

Everybody that hires a renovator expects certain level of

- quality
- efficiency
- cost savings

Renovators are just one kind of professionals that provide their time, craftmanship and experience to gain their income. Better renovators can meet or exceed expectation levels from their clients by effectively pricing their time to their clients with the best possible mix of craftmanship and experience.

Also, renovators are bound by the following correlation as well:

Quality, efficiency, savings - you can only pick two out of three.

For example,

If you want a top-notched and fast job, it will cost more.
If you want a top-notched job at low price, it will take longer to complete
If you want a fast job at low price, it will not have top-notched quality.
Therefore, it would be difficult to believe someone who claims to be able to do the same kind of job much cheaper, or faster, or better than the others.

The key operative word here, however, is whether one is comparing the same kind of job or not.

With advanced and ongoing improvement in renovation product technologies and techniques, better renovators are always on the go in trying better products, in introducing better techniques, with the purpose of providing a better job, rather than the same kind of job, to their clients, and providing themselves the competitive edge - to be cheaper, faster or better than the other fellow renovators.

Therefore, one can pick a renovator among others by assessing, in order of importance, their:

1. craftmanship and experience by looking at their previous jobs;
2. up-to-date product knowledge and renovation techniques, and verifying them;
3. price if all other things being same.

Just remember:

1. It is always more expensive to do it twice.
2. You canˇ¦t compare apples with oranges.

It kind of makes sense, doesnˇ¦t it?