Choosing a Contractor, Part 3

For the final post in this series we hear from Paul Maurer.  His company, Paul Maurer General Contracting, has been a fixture on the custom home building scene in northern Michigan for nearly four decades.  Here are Paul's tips on successfully choosing a contractor for your next residential construction in northern Michigan.

First, a good relationship between owner and builder is the most important.  If you have prepared good building plans and detailed specifications, the prices between quality builders will be similar.  So, pick someone that you feel comfortable with.  check them out, make sure they have been in business for awhile and make your decision  If you're going to work closely and be dependent upon someone for 10 or 12 months and spend $500,000 or more with them, you better like and trust your contractor.

Second, ask details about their construction process.  How will they communicate with you?  Is their construction schedule solid and easy to understand?  How do they process and handle change orders?  Will they show you the pricing break downs, in a way you can understand, including the builder's profit and overhead?

Finally, after you've gathered all your facts, who do you trust the most?  Paul notes he now sometimes builds homes for the children of former clients.  To him that is the ultimate recognition of trust and standing behind his work and his schedules.

Thanks, Paul, for taking the time to offer your wisdom.  If you need advice with a construction law issue, click here to email Andy Blodgett with your questions.