Remodeling a Home

Bringing a contractor into your home to conduct repairs or install a new piece of HVAC equipment requires a certain level of trust. If you're like most homeowners, you rely on your contractor's opinions and expertise to help you solve a problem or improve your home in some way. Unfortunately, it can be hard to judge the answers you receive if you're not an expert yourself.

If you're about to begin a significant HVAC repair, install, or upgrade, you're probably looking to receive at least a few bids for comparison. While many contractors may provide you with relatively similar prices, that doesn't mean that all proposals are the same. These three questions will help you differentiate between contractors so you can choose the best one for your job.

1. What's Your Guarantee?

An easy mistake that many homeowners make is confusing equipment and labor warranties. If you're installing a new system or replacing an existing part, you'll usually have a manufacturer warranty that comes with it. These warranties cover the cost of a replacement part if the original is defective, but they don't necessarily cover labor for installation.

Instead, contractors typically provide a warranty for their labor, and they may also offer a reduced rate if replacing a defective part. There's no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to warranties, but you can use this question to compare the value of each contractor's bid. Ultimately, you should choose the one with the warranty coverage that makes you comfortable.

2. Do You Have Any Brand Preferences?

Most contractors work with what they know, and this often includes specific brands of HVAC equipment. You may find that one bid contains several options for new equipment, while another contractor may prefer only a single brand. As with the first question, there's not necessarily a correct answer, and your goal should be to take a deep dive into the reasoning behind their choices.

If your contractor does prefer one brand, be sure to ask them why. Do they answer fewer service calls for that brand? Do they find that they're less likely to return to replace defective parts? These questions can help you choose better equipment for your home, and they can help tell you more about your contractor's decision-making process.

3. What Difficulties Might Come Up?

Don't focus only on the ideal case. Your contractor's bid is usually a good faith estimate of the time and costs to perform a job, but unexpected hurdles sometimes arise. If a contractor hasn't worked in your home before, they won't be entirely familiar with your existing HVAC system. Ask about any potential difficulties that might come up and how these will affect the cost and time required for the job.

By asking the right questions, you can help distinguish between the bids you receive for your job, allowing you to choose the contractor that best fits your needs and budget.