Checklist: Questions to Ask a Home Addition Contractor

One area of the home improvement industry that remains strong despite a weak housing market is building a home addition. Homeowners who decide they need a bigger home but can't justify selling their property frequently turn to home addition contractors. Of course, building onto a home can be just as much of an ordeal, if not more so, compared to hunting for, bidding on, and closing on a new home. No matter what your reason for building a home addition, you need to know quite a few things about your prospective builder. Answers to some basic questions will give you a sense of whether or not you could work comfortably with a particular home addition professional. Below are some questions to ask:

Questions to Ask before you Hire someone to Build onto a Home
How long have you been building home additions?
Were you formally trained or how did you acquire your experience?
Do you belong to any professional associations?
Are you licensed and registered with the state?
Are you insured?
Do you have any references I may contact?

Questions about Your Home Addition Contractor's Work
Do you give written warranties?
Will this project require a permit?
Can you estimate how long this will take?
Will you provide options for different materials?

Interview Question for References
Were you happy that you decided to build onto the home?
Was the addition completed on time?
Were there any unexpected expenses?
Would you use this home addition contractor again?
Would you recommend this home addition contractor?

That said, not all home additions are created equal, and you should tailor your questions for your specific projects. A carport or backyard shed is not the same caliber project as an extra bedroom or a new master bath. Likewise, you should seek out references that completed a similar project in terms of building onto a home.

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