New flooring gives your home a fresh, new look and can increase the value immensely. But a flooring project can also be very expensive and homeowners are often on the lookout for ways to save their hard earned cash.
An experienced flooring contractor will do the job right the first time making this a hassle free project. With some common sense tips you can learn how to save money hiring a flooring contractor and still end up with a beautiful newly floored home.
Helpful Steps to Complete Yourself
Moving furniture and clearing out the room takes time. You will be paying top dollar to have the flooring installers lift and move furniture that can easily be done by a few friends or family members the day before. If you have the space and the available manpower, it's highly recommended that you clear the room of all furniture and furnishings for the contractors.
If possible, you may also be able to remove the old flooring and get it out of the way. This will save on labor and disposal fees, although you will probably pay to dump it.
It's also important to provide safe, easy access to the room (or rooms) that are getting new flooring. If this is on the second floor or the basement that means you need to make the stairways completely clear, including removing pictures and shelving from the wall. Have the walkway cleared of any snow for winter installations and look for the easiest point of access.
Layout Matters
Flooring contractors will charge you for waste, since they can't sell or use the product again. That means you need to make the best choice about seams and other elements of your flooring layout to minimize waste. When the contractor is at your home measuring and writing up the quotation, be sure to ask them what the best layout is. Compare what each contractor says and make an informed decision.
It's also handy to have the carpeting contractor leave any decent sized carpet remnants behind when they're done. It won't save you any money, but these pieces are wonderful as floor mats once they've been professionally bound.
Get a Detailed Quote
When obtaining a quotation for your flooring project ask the contractor to separate the materials, labor and other portions of the price. This allows you to understand where you can best save money. Maybe one contractor charges much more for installation or tacks on disposal fees for your old flooring. With these details you can also choose the flooring material and padding that best fits into your budget while ensuring a professional installation.
Hiring a flooring contractor will result in the most durable, comfortable flooring possible. Ask for a detailed quote from each flooring contractor you contact and use that information to make the best decision on where to save money. Your home's fresh new look will be well worth the work when your flooring project is complete.
Compare Rates and Negotiate
Posting you project with TrustedPros.ca, you can get multiple bids from flooring contractors in your area. If you asked for a detailed bid in your project posting, you can compare different items on their bids and try to negotiate for better rates.
Make sure that price is not the only thing you're concerned with. First, you must shortlist top two or three contractors by looking at their reviews, ratings, TrustScore, licenses, and past projects. Negotiate only with the contractors you intend hiring.
Posted by: TrustedPros