{"id":12619,"date":"2019-10-31T17:08:09","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T00:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=12619"},"modified":"2024-11-26T10:16:03","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T18:16:03","slug":"how-to-work-with-contractors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-to-work-with-contractors\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Effectively Work With Contractors When You\u2019re Renovating to Sell"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you gear up to prepare your home for sale, real estate experts agree that now isn\u2019t the time to take on any major renovations<\/a> that aren\u2019t absolutely necessary. However, only 55% of Americans tend to home repairs right away<\/a>, so you could have some deferred maintenance to deal with before you list and you\u2019ll have people viewing your house with a microscope.<\/p>\n

Unless you\u2019ve got a license to do highly skilled repair work, that could mean you need a contractor\u2019s help\u2026Like, yesterday.<\/p>\n

However, expect it to take more than just a phone call and quick consult to get the shower retiled or electric work repaired. A new survey from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) revealed that 80% of construction firms<\/a> say they\u2019re having a hard time filling the many positions they need to hire as home remodeling budgets rise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we scooted back 3, 5, 7 years ago, when the market was a little bit different, you\u2019d have no problem finding a contractor,\u201d explains Dan Jones<\/a>, a Charlotte-based real estate agent who\u2019s sold over 300 single-family homes. \u201cUnfortunately, it\u2019s really hard right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

We spoke with real estate agents, experienced contractors, and homeowners on how best to work with contractors when there just aren\u2019t enough to go around.<\/p>\n

\"Autumn,<\/a>
Source: (Peter Aschoff\/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Schedule your project during the offseason<\/h2>\n

Contractors are an incredibly busy and in-demand bunch, but home renovations do follow some seasonal patterns. According to HomeLight\u2019s Top Agent Insights Survey for Q3 2019, 91% of real estate agents<\/a> (who do a lot of coordinating with local contractors for their clients) believe builders and contractors are busiest in spring and summer.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, two-thirds of top agents say that building materials and labor for home renovations are the cheapest between October and March.<\/p>\n

Whether your house needs fresh flooring or new countertops to be marketable to future buyers, tackling necessary projects in the fall or winter could save you money. Before you take on any major work around the house, though, check out HomeLight\u2019s list of projects with the best and worst ROI to make sure it\u2019s worth doing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Give contractors as much information upfront as possible<\/h2>\n

\u201cContractors are already spread so thin, it\u2019s just doing the simple things beforehand to save them the legwork,\u201d Jones explains.<\/p>\n

As you reach out to contractors, don\u2019t wait until they come to your home for a consultation to explain your needs. In initial outreach:<\/p>\n