When homeowners are contemplating a remodel, one of their primary objectives is to select a trustworthy, responsive, and affordable construction company. Construction services are provided by well over 20,000 licensed general contractors in the Orange County and Southern California area. The difficulty for most people lies in cutting down this extensive list of home improvement contractors to those that meet their needs and specifications.
At GreatBuildz, we speak daily with clients searching for reputable construction firms in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and Ventura County. GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners with trustworthy, pre-screened home contractors and provides ongoing project support to ensure a stress-free experience. This blog will provide tips and tools for locating the most qualified home improvement contractors in Orange County for your projects.
How Can I Locate The Best Local Home Renovation Service Near Me?
Asking your network of family, friends, and coworkers for referrals is the most effective way to locate reputable home improvement contractors. Hopefully, someone you know will be able to recommend a construction company that they have used and been pleased with. If this home contractor did excellent work for a friend or relative, you should have high confidence that they will do a good job for you as well.
Or you might consider contacting a company that performs extensive contractor screening and provides personalized introductions to qualified home renovation contractors if you are unable to obtain at least three recommendations from your network (www.GreatBuildz.com or similar). It is not advised to randomly select a home renovation service from a flier in your junk mail or from an internet contractor directory.
Related: How to Find the Best Home Improvement Contractors
What Type Of Home Improvement Contractor Am I Looking For?
If you need minor work completed at your home or have a big list of simple tasks, you can likely contact a handyman rather than a general contractor. Jobs costing less than $600 can be completed by a local handyman or a business such as handy.com.
Alternatively, if you have a larger project that is limited to a single system or part of the home, it would make sense to engage a ‘trade’ construction provider, such as a roofer, painter, plumber, HVAC specialist, flooring installer, etc.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you’re planning a large-scale renovation, you’ll require a general contractor service. Larger projects include bathroom or kitchen renovations, home additions, garage conversions, whole-house renovations, accessory dwelling units, etc. Only home improvement contractor services that possess a General Contractor License are certified and trained to perform these tasks.
If you’re planning an exterior or backyard remodel, you may want to look for a pool contractor or landscape contractor, as they specialize in these types of projects.
What Should I Look For In A Reputable Construction Company?
Firstly, it is essential that you meet the construction company’s owner in person. Frequently, the company will just send a salesperson. However, bear in mind that you will not be working with this salesman during the project, thus it is more important to meet the company’s owner or project manager.
You should take as much time as necessary to interview the service representative or owner in order to become familiar with them and their methods. If you don’t feel comfortable during a meeting or interaction, you should move on. However, just because you liked them during a single meeting does not imply you should immediately hire them.
Although your initial feelings about the contractor should factor into your hiring decision, they are insufficient to make an informed choice. Also, after obtaining estimates from multiple companies for the construction services you need, be wary of selecting the lowest-cost option. Before deciding on a construction company based just on your gut feeling and lowest cost, please keep in mind that selecting the wrong contractor might result in a great deal of stress during the remodel or even a renovation nightmare.
At GreatBuildz, we’ve devised a ten-step screening process for home improvement contractors. I recommend taking as many of these steps as feasible, but at least the five listed below:
- Check internet reviews first. Read any negative reviews carefully and determine how bad their actions appear to you. Request that the contractor explains any negative reviews.
- Verify their license online. In Orange County or California, visit CSLB License Database. Confirm if the home renovation service’s license is active and free of complaints and suspensions.
- Obtain a copy of their insurance certificates and inquire with their insurance agent about any claims or lawsuits their company has experienced.
- Call at least three of their recent references and examine photos of their work. Ask their references, “If the company could have done one thing better, what would it be?”
- Conduct an interview with the company’s owner (or at least the Project Manager) and ask them any pertinent questions.
When it comes to finding the best home improvement contractor for your project – GreatBuildz is simplifying the contractor search in Orange County. GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners with reliable, thoroughly screened home improvement services and provides project support from start to finish.
Call now (818.317.3567) to chat with a real person about your next renovation project or visit our website for more information: www.greatbuildz.com
