Relocating to San Antonio | Relocation Resources for Moving to San Antonio

While house hunting in San Antonio, you and your spouse have found the perfect home – it’s well situated close to a high-rated school district, it’s within a decent commute to your work and a nice pool and landscaped backyard really made a lasting impression. The home will require some remodeling but not enough to stop you from moving in, and it’s available for immediate occupancy. Find out more in this section about the best ways to find a remodeling contractor, the questions to ask when interviewing a contractor and what to include in the remodeling contract. Also find out what remodeling projects in the San Antonio region provide the best return on investment.

According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) (www.nari.org), the remodeling market is a $275 billion industry and is expected to continue to experience significant growth. It is estimated that more than 1 million homes per year undergo major renovation or remodeling. In San Antonio, there are many professional builders and remodelers to select from, most are members of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association (GSABA), an organization of professionals in the residential construction industry.

Working with Contractors in Texas
In Texas, a builder or a remodeler may not construct new homes or engage in remodeling projects that change the living area of the home or that cost more than $10,000 for interior renovations without first registering with the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) (www.trcc.state.tx.us). In addition to obtaining information about the builder or remodeler, the commission determines the physical location (address) of each builder or remodeler.

The review of the registration application includes a background check for a designated individual who serves as the registered agent for the builder or the remodeler. The commission aggressively pursues administrative actions against builders and remodelers who fail to follow statutory and regulatory requirements. The majority of commission actions are the result of complaints received from consumers.

At TRCC’s website, you can search by builder name to learn important details about a builder or remodeler, facts such as whether the builder/remodeler is registered, the number of homes a builder or remodeler has registered and the number of inspection requests where an inspector confirmed a construction defect. You also can call the commission at (877) 651-TRCC to check on a specific builder.

If you’d like a copy of the complaints filed against a builder or remodeler, send your request to open.records@trcc.state.tx.us, fax to (512) 463-9507 or mail to: P.O. Box 13509; Austin, Texas 78711-3509. Be sure to include your contact information, including your mailing address, in your request.

Another Texas resource is the Attorney General Office of Texas (www.oag.state.tx.us). This agency protects consumers and the legitimate business community by filing civil lawsuits under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other consumer protection statutes.

Contractor selection
At this point, you’ve had a chance to review what improvements and additions you’re interested in making to your home. Now, you need to begin the contractor selection process, which is the most important decision in a remodeling project. Nearly half of all projects signed by a remodeling contractor are the result of client referrals. An additional 22 percent of jobs are the result of word-of-mouth. By following these guidelines, you will be better prepared to make an informed decision that best suits your needs.

Employ a home improvement contractor with an established business in your area. Local firms can be checked through references from past customers in your community or through local organizations. Local remodelers are compelled to perform quality work that satisfies their customers for their business to survive. Here are a few suggestions for finding local contractors:

Greater San Antonio Builders Association website at www.sabuilders.com. You’ll find a searchable database of member professional builders.
The San Antonio chapter of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI) www.remodelsanantonio.org. At the website, click on Find A NARI Pro and select a professional by specialty.

Visit the TRCC website described above at www.trcc.state.tx.us to find out if a contractor you are considering is licensed.

2. When you meet with a potential contractor, ask for the following:

A current copy of his license. Call or visit TRCC’s website to verify compliance with the law.
A copy of the remodeling contractor’s certification of insurance for the name of his or her insurance agency to verify coverage. Most states require a contractor to carry worker’s compensation, property damage and personal liability insurance. Make sure the contractor’s insurance coverage meets all the minimum requirements.

When you solicit bids from several different home improvement contractors, be sure they are bidding on the same scope and quality of work. Discuss variations in bids and beware of any bid that is substantially lower than the others.