Bringing in a professional home adaptations contractor? 

Before giving the go-ahead for the work to begin, and way before you’ve invested financially, make sure you’ve asked these three key questions for clarity and peace of mind.

What Is Your Experience Of Adapting Homes?

If you’ve gone looking for a home adaptation contractor, this might feel like a silly question to ask. But the truth is that home adaptations can mean anything from installing a grab rail to a fully accessible bathroom refit, and a huge number of skills might be required for various jobs.

Experience, therefore, is vital. Particularly experience in carrying out the same work you’re undertaking to make your home more accessible. Extensive experience means that your contractor will be able to demonstrate complete competency and work quickly to get you up and running. 

To clarify the exact experience a contractor has in adapting homes, you can ask for examples of their work and projects that have similarities to yours. Any proficient, reliable contractor will be very happy to show you completed projects and talk you through any challenges they faced and how they were overcome if asked.

The John Ford Group was borne from a story of personal experience of living with someone who needed adaptations and benefited greatly once changes had been made. We’re proud to say that this gives us a significant insight that many other contractors out there may not have. We have a heartfelt understanding of the emotions that can be involved in the process. 

What Advice Do You Have?

Most professionals will be happy to share any advice they might have for your project, even right at the start of the sourcing stage. 

Reputable home adaptations contractors are professionals with empathy and experience who want to help those in need. By asking for their advice, you provide them with a chance to showcase their extensive knowledge and skillset.

Not only does asking for a contractor’s advice enable them to demonstrate their capabilities, but it may also highlight some considerations you hadn’t thought of or get you a better price for a particular facility or piece of equipment. 

What Is Your Communication Process?

Building projects can create a lot of stress. Especially if you’re kept in the dark about timeframes, potential issues and progress.

Ask any potential home adaptations contractors how they’ll work with you to keep you in the loop, because it is best to know ahead of time if you’ll be satisfied with their approach.

If your contractor is project managing the whole thing, regular updates are essential for everyone involved. For you, this ensures you are aware of progress, and for the tradesmen working together to make the project come to life, it means they’ll know when they will be needed for the next stage.

Asking a potential contractor about their communication process will provide you with clarity about who is responsible for updates so that you don’t end up feeling frazzled and frustrated. 

Top Tips For Working With A Contractor When Adapting Your Home

So, you’ve chosen a contractor to work on your adaptation project.

Along with the three questions we’ve covered, consider these top tips for making sure the experience is smooth sailing…

Clarity

Start as you mean to go on and be clear about budget and timescales from the beginning.

Listen

A great contractor will be an expert in all things adaptations. If they offer you guidance on your wants and wishes for your home, take it and make changes to the plan if needed. 

Cover

Check with your contractor in advance about what insurance coverage they hold and whether they’ve got the correct licenses to carry out the intended work. 

A waste carrier licence, for example, is required if the contractor will need to dispose of waste from a job. Public liability is another huge one; this type of insurance covers a contractor against extra costs if something happens to a member of the public in relation to their building work and they make a claim. 

Guarantee

Proficient, decent contractors will offer a guarantee on any work they complete for you because they know they’re good at what they do and that the work will stand strong. 

Find out how long the work is guaranteed to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Snagging

Ask your contractor about their snagging process. This is how a new building or construction is assessed to make sure it meets quality standards and specifications. The snagging process can highlight minor faults that need sorting out. 

Unforeseen Problems

From a pandemic to vehicle problems, sometimes things happen that can’t be helped. Discuss with your contractor how they would respond to potential unforeseen events and put a plan in action if necessary.

Mutual Consideration

Some home adaptation projects can take a while to complete. Even during simpler jobs, a good contractor will be empathetic and considerate of your home and work as unobtrusively as possible. In turn, offering refreshments or facilities to make drinks will be welcomed.

Have A Good Look Round

Once the project is complete, have a walk around the area with your contractor to take everything in and make sure you’re happy with the finish. It’s much easier to ask questions and highlight any potential problems in person at this stage. 

Clear Communication Is Essential 

These three questions will help you understand the contractor you’re looking at hiring a little better. Opening a solid line of communication in this way leaves no room for confusion or misunderstandings that could cause problems later down the line. 

Are you planning a home adaptation project? The John Ford Group can help. See our website to get in touch.