How to Get the Best Discount Tile Flooring Deal: Part 1 - Talking to Your Contractor
So you’ve decided to use discount tile flooring to remodel a portion of the house. Congratulations! In a few months’ time, you’ll have flooring done just the way you want it.
To get there, though, you need to get the best deal on your discount tile flooring.
How do you do that?
Here’s the first part of this mini-series of tips: how to enlist the help of your contractor, knowingly or unknowingly.
1. Ask for an estimate from several contractors. Get this estimate in writing. This estimate should cover not just how much to allocate for discount tile flooring expenses but for everything else you need to pay for.
2. Choose your contractor with care. Pick out the contractor who
a. has all the qualifications you need (specifically licenses)
b. comes well recommended by people you know
c. offers the best deal for your budget
3. Meet with your contractor and go over the estimate you received. Your project estimate should include a clause covering
a. unexpected and unknown repairs to your discount tile flooring;
b. cost adjustments to your discount tile flooring, when necessary (and how much to allow for these);
c. approval of changes (as homeowner, you should retain the right to approve ALL changes in writing to make sure the project proceeds as planned, with no side expenses to drive costs up).
Most contractors pride themselves on doing honest and dependable work. After all, they know that future work depends on how well they do their present work. Recommendations and positive reviews from customers are still their best sources of clients so as a rule of thumb, contractors give clients a fair estimate. This is not always the case, however.
Like it or not, you can expect a few contractors to undercut their estimate so they will get the contract and then make up for the difference by adding to the price without your consent. For example, instead of using discount tile flooring you chose yourself, they will use another material you’ll have to pay extra for. Don’t fall for that trap! Tip no. 3 should discourage padding of expenses and help you make the best deal out of your discount tile flooring.
I hope this series has helped you! In the next series, I will cover some of the items you need to check for in the contract with your contractor. In the meantime, check out this article on how to get tile samples and where.