When getting project estimates, how you phrase your questions can be important to ensuring that you get the answers needed to make an informed decision.
For example, instead of asking contractors and home experts, “How much is this going to cost?” ask, “How can we control the cost and quality when planning our remodel?”
“This will prompt the home expert to think about it differently and with that comes a better exchange of information,” says Cynthia Murphy, a certified kitchen and bath remodeler and co-founder of Murphy’s Design in Northern Virginia.
It’s also important to ask questions that will help you determine a professional’s experience level with the type of project you are looking for help with, adds Stacey Dobrovolny, principal designer and founder of Two Navy Lane in Culpeper.
And always ask for references, Dobrovolny advises.
“It can also be a good idea to see how a home expert handles conflict or when something doesn’t go as planned,” says Michael Sauri, owner and president of TriVistaUSA Design + Build in Arlington. So ask them, “How do you handle obstacles in the job?” and “Tell me about a time when you had a challenging client?,” for example.
“It’s going to sound a bit like a job interview, but when you think about it, that’s kind of what it is,” Sauri says.
“Take advantage of free consultations to ask your questions,” says Murphy. “These are a great opportunity to review your project and see if you have any blind spots.”
Some questions to ask include:
- Have you done projects of this scale before?
- How do you handle clients like us?
- How have you vetted your contractors?
- How many revisions will I get with the project?
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
This story originally ran in our March Issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
