Undertaking a new project can be difficult. You have the vision, but you need someone to assist you with the execution. You need to find a contractor to take care of the work for you. If you’ve never hired a contractor, it can be tricky to find the right person for the job. At IBM Construction Management & General Contractor, we have five tips to help you find contractors in Philadelphia.

Plan your budget

Before getting too far into your project, you need to know how much you’re going to have to spend. Understand the scope of your project as well as the cost of materials. Products that are high quality and built to last will last longer than cheaper materials, so you’ll want to account for the quality of materials that you’d like to use. Your budget doesn’t need to be a perfect dollar amount, but you should have a range you would like to stay in. Once you have a budget, you can start searching for a contractor.

Know what kind of job you have

Anytime you contact a contractor, they’re going to want to know what kind of job you have in mind prior to continuing any correspondence. You should be able to convey your vision to a prospective contractor to describe what you want to be done and how you want to get it done. This will allow the contractor to decide if the work is something that they can perform or if you should contact someone else.

Get bids

The first price you’re given for a project isn’t always the best. Along this same vein, the lowest price might not be the best. Speak with several contractors to find out what you’re looking at for your total cost as well as the materials that they plan to use. A lower bid could mean inferior materials compared to what you’ll get from other contractors who plan to use materials of higher quality. Gather several bids from contractors and compare the information that you’ve been given before you make a final hire.

Know what permits you need

Before you start speaking with contractors, you can do some of your own research to find out what permits you’re going to need. You can quickly vet contractors by asking them what permits will be needed for the project and how they will go about obtaining them. If a contractor doesn’t include every permit you’ll need to legally complete the project or says something like, “Oh, you won’t need that one,” without providing a legitimate reason, you can quickly cross them off your list.

Ask your neighbors

Your neighbors have probably done some kind of remodel or improvement project on their home. They’re a great source to find information about contractors who have worked in your area as well as those who have done jobs similar to what you’re looking for. You’ll be given honest reviews and quality referrals from people you trust.

Contact us for more

For more ways to find contractors in Philadelphia, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at IBM Construction Management & General Contractor. We’re experts in contract work and construction management, so we’re here to help you find the right person for the job. Reach out today for a free quote by calling 267-202-1400 or send us a message using our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you so we can assist you in getting started on your next project.