Smart/not-so-obvious questions to ask reno/addition contractors?

[Anonymous]

Getting ready to get bids and pick a builder for our addition, and wondering if folks have suggestions for good questions to ask the builders (or their past clients/references) that we might not be thinking of, to help us end up with a good builder and a reasonably smooth/less-stressful experience during construction? (We are planning to stay in the house during construction, except for maybe a week or two-- there will be very little work that affects the inside of the existing house.)

[Anonymous]

I would ask whether they think you living in the house would impact the work/ timelines at all.

[Anonymous]

Ask how frequently they prefer to update you. Do you want to assume that everything is fine and on schedule unless they tell you otherwise? Or do you want to set a short weekly (or biweekly) meeting where you go over status of key stages and budget?

How much advance notice do you need if they need to do work that will impact the water, electrical, HVAC, etc?

If you source something or find something cheaper than your contract, who gets the savings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If you source something or find something cheaper than your contract, who gets the savings?

So this should be specified in the contract. If a line item is an "allowance," you pay what it actually costs, that number is a placeholder to help you budget. If a line item is a fixed price, you pay that price regardless of what it actually costs.

But a good interview technique is to ask questions you know the answer to, and listen to how the person answers and explains things.

[Anonymous]

Ask the past clients references how they liked the crew.

The crew is very key.

[Anonymous]

Ask them what makes an ideal client. Ask them about a client they had challenges with and why. Ask if they always have someone on sight when subs are there. Ask about the change order process (because as much as you think you've thought it all through, something, or many somethings, will come up)

[Anonymous]

Will there be an on site project manager (daily? Weekly?) And how/when do you get apprised of their progress? Do they foresee specific bottlenecks relating to permits, supply chain, etc.?