Questions to ask before hiring a contractor

Acclaim Ipad
From the planning and design stages to the finished kitchen, Acclaim Renovations & Design backs up every job with a three-year warranty that the company stands by. And that’s two years longer than Ohio mandates.

By Patricia Nugent

In February, a business in downtown Willoughby hired a contractor to do some remodeling work. He met with the owner, lied about being bonded and insured, made her an unrealistic promise of how long it would take him to complete the work, took a large cash deposit for the job, showed up one day, made a mess of the interior, and then left…never to come back.

She took to social media and the story was picked up on the nightly television news as a public service announcement of sorts. The message was clear: Don’t let this happen to you.

Over the past 45 years, Bob Gallese, owner of Acclaim Renovations & Design, has seen illegitimate contractors come and go. He understands the intricacies of the remodeling industry and how to operate with the highest level of professionalism. So, who better than Bob to provide his own PSA?

Red Flags to Look for When Shopping for a Contractor

  • Is the contractor bonded and insured? “You can easily call the insurance company to make sure this is true and current,” Bob says.
  • How many references do they provide? “If it’s just one or two, be careful. At Acclaim, we provide dozens of recommendations and strongly advise prospective clients to call them to talk about the job we’ve done.”
  • Is the budget for the project somewhat vague or open-ended? “You should have a crystal-clear picture of what your job will cost based on the agreed-upon specifications and selections.”
  • How will you communicate with your contractor? “Communication is everything. We keep our clients in the loop from day one, using an online communication portal called Co-Construct. Clients can follow every point of the job from beginning to end, from initial sketches to pictures of product selections and change orders that might impact the budget.”
  • Does the work come with a warranty? “This is something you should get in writing. Acclaim backs up every job with a three-year warranty that we stand by. And that’s two years longer than Ohio mandates.”
Over the past 45 years, Bob Gallese, owner of Acclaim Renovations & Design, has seen illegitimate contractors come and go. He understands the intricacies of the remodeling industry and how to operate with the highest level of professionalism.

Here’s What You Should Expect
“The planning and design stages are integral to a job well done,” says Bob. “We meet with clients and ask dozens of questions about how they will utilize the space. We take a walk around their home to get a feel for their style and how the room remodel will fit with that style. Then we help narrow their choices down from hundreds to several.”

Acclaim also customize a good-better-best scenario of a remodel to fit the client’s budget, making decisions on things like removing soffits, moving a sink, creating islands, or moving walls.

“We sketch our ideas and clients come into our showroom to go over them on the big screen,” he says.

In the end, he recommends that instead of homeowners wasting their time reaching out to five or six contractors for job estimates, take time, do research and settle on one or two with the most experience and best ratings and reviews.

Acclaim Renovations & Design powered by One Man and a Hammer is located at 8550 East Avenue in Mentor. The company has been awarded Contractor of the Year by NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry). Call 440-974-8082 or visit AcclaimReno.com.

Categories: Lake County Home & Garden