What are subcontractors? 

They’re the skilled tradespeople who handle the various jobs on a remodeling project --  tile layers, painters, plumbers, carpenters, wood floor refinishers, and so on.  Finding the right subcontractors can be time-consuming and fraught with aggravation, particularly in today's tight labor market. Some tradespeople prefer to work for general contractors who supply them with steady work throughout the year.

Ask your friends and co-workers for the names of subcontractors they would recommend.  A good referral provides some assurance they will perform quality work.  Then try these additional resources:

·         local building and contractor associations

·         your local Chamber of Commerce

·         the Yellow Pages

·         Internet resources, such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (www.nari.org)

Once you’ve begun locating potential candidates to handle your remodeling project, the hiring process includes:

·         interviewing the subcontractors

·         requesting and reviewing estimates

·         selecting the workers

·         scheduling the overall project

Interviewing Subcontractors

If you’ve gotten a name from a friend or co-worker, you already know at least one customer is happy with their work.  Ask for photographs of their previous jobs.  Many subcontractors will show up with an album under their arm with pictures of previous projects. 

Be sure to ask for names of recent clients you can call to get additional information about their skills, work habits and punctuality. Don’t accept reference letters without the home owner’s name and address on them.

Then, always go look at their work for yourself!

Requesting And Reviewing Estimates

Gary Lissow, a homeowner in Guerneville, California, recently interviewed several contractors to install a new heating system in his home. “I assumed that there would be some difference in the cost estimates,” Lissow said, “but I had no idea the difference would be so extraordinary.”

The heating installer he chose charged a whopping $3,400 less than the other two subcontractors who provided Lissow with bids. “The heating system installer came highly recommended, but so did the others. By getting estimates, I saved myself a lot of money,” Lissow said.

When you’re requesting estimates you’ll need to specify certain items depending on the project.  Different types of carpet, for example, require different methods of installation, and the style and grade of carpet will impact the final cost. Once you have all of the estimates – in writing, of course – you can compare the costs for labor, materials, etc. 

The lowest bid isn’t always the best bid. Go with your gut feelings. If you enjoyed your interaction with one of the subcontractors and felt as if he truly understood your vision for the project, then hire him. Feeling comfortable with a particular tradesperson is important. Sometimes it is worth paying a slightly higher price to hire that person.

Scheduling The Overall Project

If your project is small, such as installing new floors in your bathroom, then simply schedule a time that works for your subcontractor and the members of your household.  But if you’re handling a larger project, you’ll need to determine which job should be done first, which job second, and so on. 

Don’t feel bashful about asking the subcontractors for their opinion while you’re getting the estimates.  They will often be glad to answer questions that can help you appropriately schedule your project.