Practical guide to choosing any type of contractor by Dalia Sadany

1. Choosing the Right
Contractor
By Dalia Sadany

2. Good Contractors are good Project Managers …
Key skill sets they should have
Communication Problem Solving Teamwork Budgeting
Lookout for clues throughout the selection process
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3. Having Rapport with your Contractor is very important
You can usually determine that at the first meeting
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4. Be inquisitive in the meeting…
Ask questions about their
past projects and clients as
well as qualifications and
Look at pictures of their
accomplishments If possible try to visit past
previous work to get a sense
of their abilities clients’ homes to see the
contractor’s work firsthand
Make sure they have done the same work you want done
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5. If satisfied ask them to give you a Cost Estimate …
Give them the set of plans and specifications prepared by
your designer so they all have the same information
needed to prepare proper estimates
Make sure to ask them to provide a Construction
Schedule and submit everything to you in person to
discuss
Doing this will make it easier for you to compare between them later on
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6. Get a feel when you get the Estimate …
Was the Estimate
detailed &
prompt?
Yes No
Good chance their A sign of what
work will also be their work habits
thorough will be like
Think Again
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7. How many estimates should I get before making a decision?
Some People Other People
prefer to get a prefer one
number of bids Contractor after
from Contractors the interviews and
before making a only ask them to
decision give an estimate
What really matters is that you feel comfortable you have enough
adequate information to make the right choice
As a general rule 3 estimates should be sufficient
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8. Evaluate and compare the Estimates …
Evaluate each estimate - make sure that everything you ask
for is included (assume anything not listed is included not in
the price)
Compare between them carefully, takes notes and discuss
them in detail with each contractor
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9. Points to remember before making your mind …
 Stick with reputable Contractors
 Be comfortable with their capabilities
 Pricing doesn’t have to be the lowest, but fair and realistic
 Don’t jump to the lowest bid … it may be unrealistically low (to just get the job)
When in doubt consult your designer
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10. About the Author
Dalia Sadany is an Egyptian architect and interior designer with
extensive background and experience in Design-Build turnkey
solutions. She has been a lifelong advocate of the ancient
Master Builder approach to construction.
Following in the tradition of the Master Builder, in 2005 Dalia
Sadany developed a group of partnerships operating under the
umbrella of Dezines and management of Dalia Sadany
providing full service turnkey solutions to residential and
commercial clients. The group consists of - Dezines a design
house providing architecture, interiors & landscaping design
services; DECON - a general contractor specialized in high-end
interior finishing; and GUSH - a bespoke furniture designer
maker.
Quoting from Marcus Vitruvius - the architect who relies solely
on theory and ignores the craftsmanship skill of building with
his own hands follows "a shadow and not reality."
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