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How
often to do you hear this? "I'd
like to get it done, but it's so hard to find good
service these days." It seems that everyone
has a story or knows someone who has a story
to tell about some poor service experience. When it's
just a bad meal, the memory may quickly fade. When
it is your home, you could get stuck with a problem
and financial pain for many years.
Where do you find
quality contractors? Ask
your friends, co-workers and people you know. Look for
information online where you can research and educate
yourself at your leisure. A contractor who has invested
in expensive yellow page advertising and a well designed
web site is also more likely to pay attention to detail
on your project. This is not the way to choose a contractor,
but a way to start shortening the
list of contractors you would
do business with. In our experience, the worst contractors
are more likely to rely on their ability to persuade
with their mouths and would not think of using revenues
for advertising (possibly because they tend to move
around and change names more frequently).
sensible guidelines
to help you find the right contractor
Above all,
remember this: if you are not comfortable with the
contractor before you start, go someplace else! A lack
of trust or anything that may inhibit your ability to
communicate can turn minor glitches
into explosive arguments. Even though both parties
are protected by a contract, neither enjoys the project
under these circumstances.
If you are hiring a friend, get competitive
quotes. Then make sure you have the same safeguards in
your contract as you would with anyone else.
Questions to ask a prospective contractor:
Have you completed similar projects in
this area recently?
Are you licensed and registered with the
state?
Do you give written warranties?
Can you provide references? (yes or no at
this stage)
STOP HERE IF ANY
ANSWER ABOVE IS NO!
How long have you been in business? _________
years ______ months
Do you belong to any professional associations?
yes/no Which ones?
Will you be using subcontractors on this
project? yes/no If so, are your subcontractors licensed
to work in these areas? yes/no Do they have insurance?
yes/no
Who will be supervising the project? How
can you reach him/her?
Like what you hear
so far?
If you don't have
an estimate yet, ask for one. Is the estimate fair?
Be sure that each contractor
use the same specifications for bid.
Ask
for two or three referrals. Call them up and ask if you
can drive by to see the work. Be respectful of others time.
Only call if you
are serious about buying from that contractor. Some day
you'll be asked to be a reference too!
Check with the local better business bureau for complaints
against the contractors. Again it is simply a screening
method to shorten the list. Not all contractors may pay
to be part of the BBB. When you've made a selection, ask
to see the contractor's license and insurance coverage
for workman's compensation, property damage, and personal
liability.
Check with the state and insurance
company to make sure the information is valid.
What to ask the references
Do you recommend the contractor?
Would you use the contractor again?
Was the job completed on time?
Did the contractor keep you informed
of the status of the project?
Was
additional work identified that needed to be done after
the project started?Who paid for it? Was the work foreseeable?
Did workers show up when you expected and
keep the work site clean?
Like
what you hear?
Ask to see the work of the contractor
you are most interested in. If you are not satisfied, then
go to the next on your list. If you get all glowing
references over the phone, you may choose to skip this
part if the contractor is clearly the winner! A busy contractor
may refer dozens of prospective buyers and no one likes
to ruin a good referral network!
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