How to prepare for your first contractor meeting
Meeting with a siding contractor is an exciting first step—get the most from it by preparing your goals, questions, and materials so you can confidently compare estimates and choose the right partner for your home.
If you have a scheduled meeting with a Hardie® siding contractor, you’re off to a great start. Contractors in the James Hardie™ ALLIANCE network are pre-vetted, trained, and experienced with Hardie® products, so you don’t need to worry about unqualified or unreliable contractors.
But you should prepare for the meeting and ensure you ask the right questions, especially if you’re comparing siding estimates from a few different contractors. You should be ready to explain your siding project goals and ask questions that reveal the contractor’s experience, communication style, and understanding of your vision. Check out our guide to planning a siding project, then follow the steps below to prepare for your first meeting with a siding contractor.
Gather Documents and Images
A good siding contractor will bring a portfolio of previous work, so you can get a sense of experience. You should come prepared with your own portfolio, which may contain:
- Inspirational Images: Images help convey your vision for your home’s exterior. If you’re not sure where to start, you can browse home decor sites, watch home renovation shows, or explore Pinterest. Next, upload a photo of your home to the Hardie™ Designer, powered by Hover®, and experiment with different siding profiles and color combinations. Save your favorite designs to share with your contractor. If you’re torn between colors, you can also request a sample to see your options up-close.
- Home Inspection Report: The siding contractor may ask to see your most recent home inspection report. Even if the report doesn’t document any damage to your existing siding, it may mention structural problems or issues with the roof, which could impact the project.
- HOA CC&Rs: If you live in a community with a homeowner’s association, you’ll want a copy of the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions on hand. This document may specify hours when the contractor can work and outline any restrictions on architectural changes to the home.
- Blueprints: If you have existing blueprints for your home, it may be helpful to make a copy for your contractor. Blueprints show important details like dimensions, exterior elevations, and placement of windows and exterior fixtures.
- Family Schedule: Make sure to check with your spouse and other residents of your home so you can tell your contractor about any scheduling conflicts. For example, if your spouse is planning an outdoor barbecue, you’ll probably want to ask your installation team to take the day off.
- Siding Project Budget: Before you meet with a contractor, you should develop a siding replacement budget. Get a rough idea of siding installation costs and find out which financing options are available to you. Your contractor may offer a payment plan or loan, and you should evaluate how it compares to other options.
Prepare Your Home
The siding contractor will want to walk around the perimeter of your home to inspect your existing siding. To prepare, you should:
- Tame the lawn and foliage: Mow the lawn and trim back trees and shrubs that may interfere with visibility around your home’s exterior.
- Complete your own inspection: Now that you have a clear view of your existing siding, look for damage or other areas of concern you may want to point out to the contractor.
- Clear the way: Move outdoor furniture away from your exterior walls and park your cars out of the way.
- Secure pets: Your dog might think the siding contractor is their new best friend but keeping them on a leash or tucked away inside will help the contractor focus on the task at hand.
Write Down Your Essential Questions
You probably have a lot of questions about what a siding quote includes, the timeline you can expect, and the ongoing maintenance Hardie® siding requires. Make a list of questions to ensure you cover everything during the contractor pricing interview. Important questions to ask your contractor include:
Questions about your contractor:
- How long have you worked as a siding contractor, and how many years of experience do you have working with Hardie® siding?
- Have you worked on other exterior designs similar to my vision for my home?
- Can you share testimonials from past customers or provide references?
- Do you offer an additional warranty for your workmanship?
- How will you prepare the surface of my home to install my new siding?
- Does your siding quote include debris removal? Are there any miscellaneous or incidental costs the siding estimate doesn’t include?
- Do you offer a payment plan or financing options through a third-party lender? What are the qualification requirements?
- Will my siding installation project require a building permit, and who will handle acquiring the permit from my local planning department?
- Who will oversee the siding installation team, and who will be my point of contact during the project if I have questions or concerns?
- How can my family prepare for the residing project?
- How will you protect my home from damage during the installation process?
- When can I expect the project to be completed, and what occurrences might interfere with the plan?
Questions about Hardie® products:
- What do you like about working with Hardie® siding?
- What can I expect from Hardie® siding in terms of durability and climate resilience?
- What is the warranty information for the Hardie® siding products you plan to use, and how can I ensure I don’t inadvertently void the warranty?
While you’re interviewing the siding contractor, pay attention to their communication style. If you struggle to get on the same page with the contractor, it might not be the right fit. You should also get a feel for how well the siding contractor understands your vision for your home. If the contractor is enthusiastic and brings new ideas to the table that reflect your design goals, that’s a good sign.
For more ideas, check out these 8 tips for choosing a siding contractor.
Lay Down the Project Management Logistics
Even after the contractor answers your questions, you may not be ready to make a decision. It’s a good idea to interview a few siding contractors and choose the best fit. Still, you should have an idea of next steps before the contractor leaves.
- Outline a project schedule: Get a rough idea of the project hours and timeline to review with your family.
- Make sure you understand the siding quote: Go over the itemized quote in detail and make sure you understand what’s included and when your deposit or first payment is due.
- Note any remaining questions: If the contractor was unable to answer one or two of your questions, take note of when you can expect them to get back to you.
- Get the right contact information: Make sure you have the contractor’s name, address, phone number, and license number. Agree on a preferred method of communication — is it okay to text your contractor, or do they prefer email?
- Verify license and insurance info: Though Hardie™ ALLIANCE contractors are pre-vetted, it’s still a good idea to ask for a copy of their current insurance certificate and verify their licensing information with your local government.
- Know the next steps: Define responsibilities for any actions or decisions that should come next. For example, you may need to review the payment schedule with your spouse and make a final decision on the trim color. The contractor may need to answer outstanding questions and provide a final siding contract for your review if you accept the bid.
Proceed with Confidence
By choosing Hardie® siding and interviewing a contractor in the James Hardie™ ALLIANCE network, you’ve already set yourself up for success. You’ve chosen a product known for its long-lasting beauty and narrowed down your options to pre-vetted contractors with a wealth of product experience.
Once you’ve interviewed a few Hardie™ ALLIANCE contractors and received detailed siding quotes, you can make an informed decision on the best siding company for the job. As you compare your options, review our guide on how to choose the best siding contractor. When you feel confident in your decision, be sure to read the final siding project agreement carefully before signing off.
