Adding A Second Story To A Ranch House: How To Choose The Right Contractor

For many homeowners, the biggest challenge to adding a second story to a ranch house is finding the right contractor for the job. When you are adding a second story to a ranch house you need to find a contractor who is reliable, professionally capable, affordable, and has completed similar projects. In fact, choosing the right contractor can make a world of difference between successfully adding the second story and a disastrous experience.

What Type Of Contractor Do I Need?

If you are going to be adding a second story to your ranch house, then you will typically need to hire a general contractor. A general contractor will be the “project manager” for your renovation project. He will be in charge of hiring subcontractors to finish the specialty work, such as the electrical, plumbing, and painting components of your home renovation project.

Homeowners with extensive renovation experience might forgo hiring a general contractor, and instead choose to hire specific tradespeople for each job. If you decide to go this route, then you will need to conduct multiple contractor searches. You will also need to serve as the liaison between each contractor, while simultaneously resolving any conflicts that might occur. For many homeowners, this potentially time consuming task is worth its weight in gold; however, for less experienced homeowners, hiring a trusted general contractor is worth every penny.

How Can I Hire The Right Home Contractor?

Before you can hire a contractor for your home renovation project, you need to have clearly thought about what you want to achieve. Remember that adding a second story to your ranch house is an large task that will require extensive planning. With this in mind, hiring the right contractor for your home will start with a bit of well-executed research. Keep the following tips in mind as you begin your search.

Tip #1: Get Recommendations From Friends, Family, And Local Professionals.

Ask your family, friends, and colleagues for general contractor recommendations. Next, check with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry for a list of active members in your local area. You can also speak with a trusted building inspector, who will know which local contractors are known for meeting code requirements. Finally, you can visit your local lumberyard and ask a manager which contractors are known for purchasing quality building materials.

Tip #2: Research Your Potential Contractors.

With your list of potential contractors at the ready, it is time for you to conduct the next phase of your research. Start by looking up the contractors’ websites. Carefully look through their project galleries. Have they completed projects of similar size, style, and scope? Next, look-up customer reviews. Do the customers regularly state that the contractor “completed work on time,” or “kept the job site safe and clean?” Finally, visit an active job site to see if it is well-organized. While looking at the job site take note of the quality of the materials, as well as the courteous-levels of the site workers. Are the workers careful with the homeowner’s property and respectful in their interactions?

Tip #3: Conduct Phone Interviews. 

An important step in finding the right contractor is to conduct phone interviews. Ask the following types of questions:

• Can the contractor take on a project of your size?
• Does the contractor have experience adding a second story to a ranch house?
• Can the contractor provide financial references?
• Will the contractor provide you with a list of previous clients?
• How many other projects is the contractor currently completing or overseeing?
• How long has the general contractor worked with his subcontractors?

The contractor’s answers to these questions will provide valuable insights into the company’s reliability, availability, and professionalism.

Tip #4: Pick Your Top Three Candidates To Meet Face-To-Face.

Once the phone interviews are completed, you should pick your top three candidates for face-to-face interviews. During your in-person interview ask more in-depth questions. Make sure that the contractor is able to not only answer your questions, but that he also puts you at ease. Finally, make sure that you can communicate easily with the contractor and that you feel comfortable having them in your home.

Tip #5: Ask For Project Bids. 

Finding the right contractor will require you to ask for project bids. One of the most effective ways to compare bids is to ask each contractor to break down the cost of labor, materials, profit margins, and other expenses. Generally speaking, materials should account for approximately 40 percent of the total cost, while the rest of the bid should cover overhead and a 15 – 20 percent profit margin.

Tip #6: Know Who Will Be Completing The Work. 

Remember that when a general contractor will typically hire subcontractors to complete some of the work. Ask your general contractor for an employee list, as well as a detailed list of who will be completing each step of the work. You want to ensure that the subcontractors are as reliable and skilled as the general contractor.

Tip #7: Check Licenses, Complaints, And Litigation History. 

Choosing the right contractor for your home renovation project will require you to research licenses, complaints, and litigation history. This precautionary step can help you to avoid residential building scams. Most general contractors and subcontractors will be licensed. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau to determine if anyone has filed complaints against the contractor. It is important that your chosen contractor has a clean record and valid licenses.

Through these seven helpful tips, you will be able to more easily choose the right contractor for your home renovation project. Remember that the more research that you conduct, the more-equipped you will be to make an informed decision.

2 Point Highlight

1) When you are adding a second story to a ranch house you need to find a contractor who is reliable, professionally capable, affordable, and has completed similar projects

2) Through these seven helpful tips, you will be able to more easily choose the right contractor for your home renovation project.