5 Questions to Ask a NYC General Contractor Before Hiring One

These are the most important questions to ask when hiring a contractor for your upcoming New York City apartment renovation.

December 18, 2018

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5 Questions to Ask a NYC General Contractor Before Hiring One

Planning to remodel any part of your home is an enormous undertaking. Making sure you have the practical plans and talent are crucial before you kick off, so naturally one of your first steps should be finding a reliable and trustworthy general contractor in New York City that you feel comfortable working with. Learn the language of home renovation, before you kickstart your next project and remember to ask your NYC general contractor a few important questions with our helpful list below.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Not long after the thrill and excitement of planning your renovation project wear off, you’re probably going to start asking yourself a few nervous questions such as; how do I know which contractor I should work with? What if my general contractor is trying to take advantage of me? How do I avoid letting my home become just another one of the countless New York City home horror stories I always hear about?

Ultimately, assuaging these fears really comes down to working with the right New York City general contractor and team, but how can I know for certain that I've found them?

Aside from doing obvious research like making sure your contractor is licensed, carries proper insurance, has reviews online, and has references you can speak with, you’ll need to do some hard work yourself. These are basic requirements that won’t tell you everything you need to know. It’s just as important to spend time asking questions and getting a good read on your contractor yourself.

Blended kitchen and dining area from Brooklyn brownstone renovation in Bed-Stuy. View full renovation before and after.

[#Basics]Checking Off the Basics[#Basics]

Before you come up with a list of questions to ask a general contractor before hiring one, you need to do your own research. For instance, you must check every prospective contractor’s license on your state’s or city’s website to make sure it’s legitimate. In New York City, general contractors are licensed by the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, which has an online system where you can check the license.

Next, search each contractor’s name online to see what reviews say, and check any Google or Houzz.com ratings of them. Online reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, but several negative comments should be a red flag.

Assuming the contractor’s credentials are legitimate, the next step is to determine whether he or she is a good fit for you and your home renovation project. To do that, you’ll have to spend time getting to know your contractors during your initial consultation instead of taking a quick walk through your home, briefly discussing renovation possibilities, and calling it good.  

Now that you’ve confirmed the basics, you need to know exactly what to ask a contractor when remodeling your home. These five questions are a good start:

[#See]1. Can I see some previous projects?[#See]

References are important but don’t put too much emphasis on them. Unless those references are your own friends and family members, they’re likely not completely accurate. After all, would you provide a reference that doesn’t speak highly of you? Instead, ask to see a few previous renovations in person, especially those that are similar to your own project. Only by seeing past work for yourself can you truly see the quality of the finished project and how well the contractor’s work holds up over time.

[#Would]2. How would you do this in your own home?[#Would]

The best general contractors in New York City possess the skill of balancing cost and quality, which gives them the ability to provide valuable advice regarding materials, layout options, and more. If you’re too focused on cost, even good contractors will be limited in what they can do for you.Mind the budget but ask contractors how they would approach the project if it were in their own home and why they would make those choices. Realistically, good general contractors in New York City don’t wait to be asked this question; they give you their input and advice without being prompted for it.

Kitchen from Manhattan apartment renovation on the Upper East Side.

[#Long]3. How long should my project take?[#Long]

When choosing a contractor, people often make the mistake of taking the behind-the-scenes logistics for granted. Who will accept materials, inspect them, and deal with defects? If your contractor doesn’t include these in the proposal and timeline, then they’ll fall on your shoulders.One of the most important questions to ask a general contractor before hiring him or her is what kind of timeline you can expect. Including the legwork, a typical NYC kitchen or bath renovation takes four to six weeks in an apartment building and just a bit less in a private home. Be wary of any timeline that’s significantly shorter than that.

[#Expect]4. What unexpected things should I expect?[#Expect]

Your contractor should want to help you realize your vision, but if he or she agrees to everything you suggest, then it’s likely too good to be true. A good contractor will help you understand what’s feasible and can help you prepare for unexpected challenges.Of course, you wouldn’t want your contractor to shoot down everything you say, but he or she should be able to tell you whether what you’re asking for would be challenging and why. That includes securing approval from your building’s board, handling materials, and purchasing finishes.

[#finished]5. What is not included in your proposal that you will need in order to have a fully finished project?[#finished]

This is a very important question to ask because not all NYC general contractors are created equal. Some provide only their labor and raw materials and not the actual finishes, so it falls on the client to purchase and deal with. Full-service firms, like our own, handle every aspect of your project. Some contractors may even try to intentionally be vague about what is and aren’t included in their work. They often do while simultaneously pitching a very appealing price, but chances are this contractor is setting you up for change order hell.

Full-Service General CONTRACTOR IN NEW YORK CITY

If you’re researching general contractors for an upcoming apartment renovation in NYC, you might find a full-service design-build firm like Gallery, which handles every aspect of a project from start to finish, is better suited for your needs. If a luxury apartment renovation is in your future, contact us at your convenience for a consultation to see why our New York City apartment renovation and remodeling services makes most sense when choosing home renovations contractor near Manhattan or Brooklyn.

Chief Revenue Officer

Alex Ushyarovhttps://www.gallerykbny.com/authors/alex-u

Alex Ushyarov is the Chief Revenue Officer of Gallery KBNY, a full service design-build firm specializing in the design and interior renovation of apartments, townhomes, and lofts in NYC. Recognizing the importance of differentiation in a competitive industry, Alex has developed a clear and compelling brand identity for the company. Through meticulous market analysis and a deep understanding of customer needs, he has honed the firm's unique value proposition, highlighting its ability to deliver innovative, sustainable, and high-quality design-build solutions.

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