After putting out the final plans for bid to at least 3 contractors we finally decided on a contractor that was reasonably priced, had experience doing historic restoration and had a good reputation in being honest. Do your homework when choosing a contractor. This is definitely a buyer beware situation! For every honest general contractor out there there is at 1 contractor out there that does not operate honestly. Check the better business bureau for complaints, ask for references and never hand over the full amount for the project. Contractors tend to not disclose their specific costs so if they are not willing to work with you on labor and material costs, tell them to go bye, bye. Always have a signed contract and a draw plan to finance the project. Make sure that the contractor pulls all necessary permits. If your property resides in an historic district make sure that the contractor understands the processes involved when working in a historic district. You hire a contractor to manage the project but you still need to pay attention to the quality of the work being performed. Don't hesitate to ask questions and if you're not satisfied then ask again. A good contractor will be willing to work with you and should be open to constructive ideas from you the owner.
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| The wall between the living room and dining room is removed. |
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| Roughing in some of the plumbing. |
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| Electrical rough in. |
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| Gutted! Looking into the living room from dining room. |
A-1 Construction got the winning bid. We signed a contract on May 16th and soon the place was swarming with the first wave of sub contractors to begin gutting and roughing in the electrical and plumbing systems.
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