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It is a good idea to get several bids for a job.Bids will give you a more realistic idea of what a project will cost.
Probably the optimal amount of bids to seek, depending on the job, would be from 3 to 5. Too few bids and your choices are few and the bids may not be competitive; in contrast, if you ask too many contractors the bidding process can be confusing and time consuming.
Some good contractors will not even bother to bid if too many others are bidding the job.
It is a good idea to get references from the contractors that you are considering.
Good contractors will be eager to show you past projects and probably will have a portfolio of past jobs. They should supply you with references or names of people who they've worked for recently.
If you are serious about hiring a certain contractor, it would be a good idea to check some of the references given.
Be sure to confirm that a contractor has the appropriate type of insurance needed for adequate coverage on the job.
In certain instances you could be liable for injuries or mishaps that happen on your property if the contractor does not have appropriate and adequate coverage for those types of incidents.
Insurance is expensive and a contractor that has proper insurance for himself and his employees will probably have to bid higher than a contractor that does not have proper insurance.
If a contractor comes in with a bid that is unusually low, it could be that he doesn't have the proper insurance coverage that is needed.
At the current time the state of Maine does not require contractors to be licensed. However some of the trades (plumbers, electricians, etc) are required to have a license. Make sure that the subcontractors that will be hired also will also have the proper insurance and licenses.
No one likes to spend more money than they have to.
However, many times the lowest price is not the best price.
Make sure everyone is bidding on the same type of work and the same type and quality of materials and workmanship.
A good contractor sometimes can also come in with a lower price because he is more efficient. He won't be wasting time or materials. He won't be spending your money trying to figure out how to do something. His estimate could be more accurate and not full of "fudge factors".
On the other hand, a good contractor could be higher, because he is figuring better materials or more adequate time to do a good job. He or his help could be more skilled and their skill will command a higher price and probably do a better job.
An abnormally low bid could mean that the contractor does not have the proper insurance for the job. He may plan on skimping on or using inferior materials.
A low bid is very enticing but do some extra investigating and research to make sure that you are getting what you want.
The more specific you can be, the more accurate the bids will be.
Your best chance on getting realistic bids is a good set of plans and specifications. That way it is more likely that everyone will be bidding on the same thing. It will also be more likely that you will end up with what you want at the price you are expecting to pay.
At Lapointe Lumber we can help you with some general plans and help you specify what you want.
However, depending on the scope of the project, we strongly urge you to go to a licensed architect or engineer for your final plans and specifications. By investing some money up front by hiring a qualified professional you will most probably save money by the end of the project.
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