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SELECT A PROFESSIONAL, RELIABLE REMODELING CONTRACTOR
A contractor is a person who undertakes or offers to construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish any building or other structure. This includes a subcontractor or specialty contractor but not a material supplier. A contractor also includes a construction manager who performs management and counseling services on a construction project for a professional fee.

Finding a qualified professional remodeling contractor for your home-improvement project doesn’t have to be a difficult task. By following these guidelines recommended and prepared by NARI, you will be better prepared to make an informed decision that best suits your needs:

Employ a home-improvement contractor with an established business in your area. Local firms can be checked through references from past customers in your community or through your local Better Business Bureau. Local remodelers are compelled to perform work that satisfies their customers so their business can survive.
In Nevada, all residential building contractors must be licensed by the state of Nevada. Ask the remodeling contractor for a current copy of his license.
Check with the government Consumer Affairs Office and the Better Business Bureau to ensure that there are no complaints on record for the contractor. In Las Vegas, the Better Business Bureau can be reached at www.southernnevada.bbb.org.
Ask to see a copy of the remodeling contractor’s certification of insurance for the name of his or her insurance agency to verify coverage. Most states require a contractor to carry workers compensation as well as property damage and personal liability insurance. Make sure the contractor’s insurance coverage meets all the minimum requirements.
If you solicit bids from several different home-improvement contractors, make sure they are bidding on the same scope and quality of work. Discuss variations in bids and beware of any bid that is substantially lower than the others.

— HOME-PERFORMANCE CONTRACTOR
Homeowners often are looking for ways to make improvements to their houses that are environmentally efficient and cost saving in the long run. Home-performance contractors differ from traditional contractors in their knowledge of what energy-efficient improvements to make and how they can work together. Home-performance contractors have specialized training and diagnostic tools to determine how your home is performing. They can assist you in achieving your goals, whether it’s improving comfort, cutting energy costs or protecting the environment.

WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS TO ASK POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS?
Timing and money are the most common questions a home-improvement contractor hears, but during an interview with homeowners when they should be asking about credentials and verifying business practices, what is often heard is, “When can you start? When will it be finished? How much will it cost?”

According to NARI, these simply aren’t enough. Yes, timing may be “everything” in comedy, but that certainly isn’t the case when it comes to remodeling. If you are going to have a successful remodeling project, you need to learn the right questions to ask and how to ask them. NARI members offer a list of questions that you should ask.

How long have you been in business?
Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors?
Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance? (Always verify this information by calling the agency. A copy of an insurance certificate does not let you know if the policy is still current. Even if the certificate has an expiration date, you cannot tell if the insurance has been canceled by either party.)
What is your approach to a project such as this?
How many similar projects have you completed in the past year?
Can you provide a list of references from those projects?
Can you provide a list of business referrals or suppliers?
What percentage of your business is repeat or by referral?
Are you a member of a national trade association?
Have you or your employees been certified in remodeling or had any special training or education, such as earning a Certified Remodeler (CR), Certified Remodeler Specialist (CRS), Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC) or Certified Kitchen & Bath Remodeler (CKBR) designation?

It’s also important to realize that sometimes it’s not the answers you get that are significant, but what you don’t get. Asking the right questions is not enough. You need to pay attention to your instincts and to what information is missing.

Unlike your accountant or stockbroker, your remodeler will be a part of your daily life and available for on-the-job education. He or she will be privy to your personal life, more so than your doctor or lawyer. Your contractor will know how you look early in the morning and how well behaved your dog is. It makes sense that you should take some time to carefully select this person and make sure that it is someone to whom you can ask questions.