Hiring A Contractor in Tampa Bay

 When you're planning on hiring a contractor in Tampa Bay, always make sure that they are licensed and insured. You can look a contractor up by company name or personal name by going to www.myflorida.gov .

Request references, and then ask the customer how the overall process went for them. Find out if they encountered any problems and if so, how were they handled. You will want to know how the company is prepared to deal with challenges or questions you may have throughout the construction or remodeling process.

Set your ideas and expectations with the contractor to ensure they match what the contractors can provide. Too many times, a contractor will have one vision of the project and the owner will have another. This leads to conflict and the process turns uncomfortable. Make sure that the two of you are on the same page.

This can be alleviated by assuring all work and materials are outlined in a written estimate. Review the estimate with the contractor, having him/her explain each part of the estimate. If a part of the estimate is vague, have the contractor be more specific. Such as what type of materials, insulation or sealant will be used? When will the work begin and end? What type of cleanup will be performed after the project is finished. Does the contractor provide an installation warranty?

Does the project require a municipality or county permit? All structural changes and additions require a permit. These include framing, windows, doors, slabs, footings, roofs, trusses, electrical, and plumbing. Beware of a contractor that asks the owner to “pull a permit”. When a permit is pulled a Notice of Commencement must be recorded with the Clerk of Circuit Court. This is to protect the owner and provide notice to the owner of potential lien claimants.