Is your outdoor living space looking bare? Have you wanted to build a deck for your Fort Collins home? You’re not alone. Thousands of homeowners in Northern Colorado have been getting estimates and vying to get a deck built for their homes. Not only does a deck add a space to host events, but it also gives you and your family a place to enjoy the outdoors without actually leaving the house. As your Top Rated Local® deck contractor servicing Fort Collins, we want to share some lessons customers have learned working with other decking contractors in the area.
Five Deck Building Lessons
Lesson #1 – Get An Estimate
You wanted a deck yesterday, and you’re probably tired of talking to a dozen contractors. It can be tempting to throw your hands up into the air and simply hire the next decking contractor in Fort Collins that returns your calls. At JJ Fencing & Decks, we strongly suggest you take a deep breath and consider your options. You want to get an estimate in writing before you agree to sign a contract. It’ll save you time, money, and sanity in the long run.
Lesson #2 – Stick To The Timeline
When working with a decking contractor, it’s hard to believe that they have other customers and projects waiting to be completed, but it’s the truth. You’re not the only customer, even though they treat you like the only one. Frankly, this is a benefit to you. A decking contractor who’s taking too long to build your deck probably doesn’t have a deadline. Before you allow work to start, make sure the contract you sign has a general timeline with a set completion date. This protects you from being charged and waiting months for a deck that shouldn’t take more than a week or two.
Lesson #3 – Understand Change-Orders
A change-order is an industry term that simply means you ordered a change to the project after it’s started. In most cases, decking contractors will up-charge you for any change orders, whether they increase the price of the project or not. This could be anything from changing the color of the material all the way to the dimensions of the entire project. Understand that change-orders cost you more than if you establish what you want before a contract is signed.
Lesson #4 – Pay Your Contractor in Installments
It’s common in the decking industry to pay your contractor in installments. A security deposit to get on their schedule is usually paid up-front, which rarely exceeds 10 percent. Once your deck is framed and ready for inspection, the contractor usually requests another 40 percent. Finally, once the deck passes the final inspection, you will be expected to pay the remaining 50 percent of the project.
Lesson #5 – Ask About Referral Payouts
In some cases, decking contractors will pay prior customers a referral fee for sending potential customers their way. If this is the case, make sure you get all the details so that when you send your neighbor, family member, or colleague at work to your decking contractor, you get credit for it.
Your Top Rated Local® Deck Contractor
JJ Fencing & Decks has been serving Fort Collins for years with exceptional decking offers and craftsmanship. Ready to get started on building your deck? Contact us today for a free estimate.