When looking to hire a contractor there are many things to keep in mind. We have put together a list of seven things we believe are the most important to look for!
1. Insurance
When it comes to choosing a contractor, insurance is a major factor. An insurance policy protects you as the owner of the property from being responsible for any damage or injury that occurs while the project is being completed.
2. References and a Positive Reputation
An indication that a company has done good, quality work is past customers satisfaction. This comes in many forms such as: references, positive online reputation, word of mouth, etc. Be aware that companies that look “too perfect” might just be! When you find a satisfaction rate of 100%, that could be a red flag that the reviews might not be from actual customers.
3. Don't Let Price Be Your Guide
When bidding contractors, price is important to look for. You do not want to go for the cheapest bid because that contractor is desperate and likely cutting corners. When searching for a contractor, you don’t want to go for the highest or lowest bid. Contractors should be competitive when it comes to pricing! However, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
4. Experience
You want your contractor to provide you with quality workmanship, and that comes with experience. Asking questions and/or requesting reference photos for their work is a great way to develop a baseline to start from!
5. Communication
You want to make sure that your contractor provides you with excellent communication. Did they confirm your appointment? Did they clearly answer all your questions? Is everything done in a timely manner? Are they friendly in their responses? If the answer to several of the questions is “no”, it is an indicator that you might not be able to have clear and open communication while your project is on-going.
6. Contract
A contract will show a lot about a company and it should include many of the points listed above. Things such as insurance, warranty, license number, etc. A detailed contract can show the experience of the company. If a contract is vague and difficult to understand, it might indicate that there are hidden fees or processes.
Looking and verifying these things will guarantee you get a quality job done by experienced contractors and ensure that you won’t run into trouble down the road. We hope this helps you when you’re looking to start your next project!