|
Five Tips to Choosing Your Contractor
You’ve
probably heard on the news or from a neighbor all about contractor scams. It’s
scary choosing a contractor, and there’s no other way to describe going into
business with someone you don’t know. It’s just plain nerve-racking! However,
we do have a few suggestions to help ease your nerves when deciding with whom
to do business. We can’t guarantee you won’t run into problems, but we’ll offer
you the best advice we have with this countdown of five tips to choosing your
contractor.
5. Use a Referral
Contractors
who have been in the business a long time and who understand the importance of
customer service will have referrals. You can go about using referrals in one
of two ways: the yellow pages or a neighbor. We recommend the latter.
If you
decide to go through the yellow pages, maybe because you don’t know anyone
whose recently done business with a contractor, then find an area contractor
who will provide you a list of customer referrals prior to an appointment. Call
or visit the contractor’s previous customers and ask questions about his
business practice and the customer’s satisfaction. You might also find out if
the contractor has completed any other projects in the neighborhood, or if any
problems were encountered and how the problems were handled.
We
recommend you ask your neighbor or family member for the information of a
contractor with whom they have recently done business. Neighbors and family
members tend to be more honest about their experiences and won’t recommend a
contractor with whom they had a bad experience. You can also check out the
contractor’s work in person and ask all the same questions listed above.
4. Get a Free Estimate and
Inspection
It doesn’t
matter what industry you’re in or looking to do business, getting a bid for a
service is free. For example, it’s free to get a bid from a florist for a
wedding and it’s free to get a bid from a printer for a brochure, so don’t
expect anything different from a contractor. Homeowners should find a contractor
who offers free estimates and inspections.
The
representative should arrive on time for the appointment, inspect both the
interior and the exterior of the home, and provide a free itemized estimate (or
proposal) for all damages, products, warranties, and works. The representative
should be knowledgeable, willing to answer all your questions, and give you all
the contact information you’ll need including phone, fax, address (not a P.O.
Box), and email for the representative and his company. It is also wise advice
to call the company and verify the representative is employed by that company
especially if you plan to move forward with a contract.
3. Ask for Product Samples and
Warranty Information
All
professional contractors have access to product samples and should be
knowledgeable about the products they offer you. Ask for a list of the products
the contractor offers, the cost vs. cost of each product, and the product
specifications.
Professional
contractors will also have product warranties. Warranties are often offered
through the manufacturer with whom the contractor is certified and should cover
materials and workmanship. Other warranties are backed by the contractor or
supply company and should be thoroughly researched before you move forward with
a contract. You should also find out who is responsible to register your
warranty – remember warranties can’t register themselves, so get the contact
information for the warrantor to confirm warranty registration.
2. Get Credentials and Proof Insurance
Homeowners
should ask for credentials and proof of insurance from all contractors when
receiving estimates. Representatives for professional contractors will carry
this information with them to provide to homeowners at the first meeting. Good
credentials include affiliations with national industry associations, the
Better Business Bureau, certifications with industry leaders in education in
training and installation, among others.
Proof of
insurance should be collected and verified as well. With the proof of
insurance, you should be sure to get the insurance agent name and telephone
number. Call the contractor’s insurance agent to verify that the contractor’s
insurance is valid and current.
1. Ask for a Blank Contract
This might
seem like strange advice, but it’s important. The reason you’ll want to see a
copy of a blank contract is you can review the terms and conditions of the
contract and compare other bidders’ contract terms.
Ask the
representative about any unique terms in the contract, especially payment
terms. Ask if the contractor requires a deposit, and if so, ask why. There are
several reasons a contractor might require a deposit, but often these terms are
negotiable if you think to ask and are aware of the terms before you sit down to
sign the dotted line.
Review all
the terms and conditions of any contract you receive in detail when collecting
estimates for your renovation project. Important terms of a contract to
understand prior to signing include payment, commencement and completion,
defects liability, insurance, homeowner’s and contractor’s default, variations,
right to cancel, and entire agreement.
In the end,
the decision is up to you. In review, use a referral, get a free estimate and
inspection, get samples of products and warranty information, get credentials
and proof of insurance, and finally, get a blank contract. By applying these
tips to choosing your contractor, we hope that you will feel prepared,
educated, and confident in your decision to move forward with your next
renovation project.
|
