Should I use a Remodeling Contractor for my remodeling project or should I contract it out myself? Should I use an unlicensed "contractor" that gives me a low price?

Many times, people try to save money by looking for a shortcut in their remodeling project by being their own contractor, or hiring an unlicensed "contractor".  Often, this effort backfires and the homeowner ends up with a higher costing and poorly built remodeling project.   Here are a few reasons to hire a licensed remodeling contractor to remodel your home.

Building a home is a full time job. Most people work.  Trying to complete a remodeling project over the phone while at work or after hours is a bad idea.  It is axiomatic in the building industry that you get what you pay for. A corollary to this maxim is that before you pay for work, you better inspect it for quality and completeness.  You simply can't do this if you have another job.

Knowledge of subcontractors. A licensed remodeling contractor will know which subcontractors do quality work at a fair price.  As a practical matter, most of these subcontractors have no business presence to the general public. If you try to use the phone book and yellow pages to find subcontractors, you will find the names of only a small segment of the quality subcontractors that can work on your house. The likely result is that you will pay more than you should.

Proper Pricing and Quality. Even if you are lucky enough to find quality subcontractors, how will you know much to pay?  How will you know whether the work is done properly?  Can you distinguish good framing carpentry from poor carpentry? Masonry? Electrical wiring? Will the work pass inspection? A licensed remodeling contractor knows what good work is and what it should cost.

Proper Building Techniques. A licensed remodeling contractor knows the procedures involved in completing your project, including the order of operations, proper building techniques, and proper materials.  It is highly doubtful that someone with no license, training or building experience will be able to efficiently schedule and complete your project, no matter how simple it looks.

Insurance and Warranty. A licensed contractor is required by law to provide workers' compensation insurance to insure against any jobsite injuries.  Homeowners and unlicensed "contractors" are not.  If there is no insurance on the job, you could suffer catastrophic losses if an injury occurs. A reputable licensed contractor will provide all necessary insurance, as well as a written warranty on your entire home that will require him or her to repair or replace any defective work or materials.

The best course of action is to hire a reputable licensed contractor to remodel your home. Names of such contractors can be obtained from the Home Builders' Association of Southern Tennessee, as well as from your friends who have recently had remodeling done on their homes. Contact some licensed remodelors, ask for references, and set up some meetings. You'll be glad you did.