by Thomas
Kral
Let's face it. you can't
always do it yourself. Some times you will need to hire a
professional home improvement contractor. They are not all the
same and the following paragraphs will help you choose the right
one!
The first thing is
choosing who to come out to your house and provide you with
estimates. You can find contractors many ways. I suggest asking
friends if they have had any similar work and who they used. I
also suggest asking the
Better Business Bureau for someone local. There are
referral services, especially on the internet, that pre-screen
their contractors. There is always the Phone book, if the first
suggestions don't pan out.
Your goal
is to at least have three estimates to choose from when making
your decision. Talking to more than one contractor is going to
give you better rounded advice and insight into what is really
needed to get the project done right. What one contractor might
have missed, another is going to point out and vice versa.
When contacting a
contractor for an estimate you will need to qualify them. Ask if
they provide the service you need. Ask if they have a
license (ours is #32717), if required in your area. If they
answer No to ANY of these requirements, thank them for their time
and move on.
When speaking with
contractors, either in person or over the phone, you should take
notes. Use a separate sheet of paper for each contractor's notes
so you don't become confused who said what. If you don't
understand something, swallow your pride and ask for clarification
on the topic. Tell the contractor your goals for the project and
ask his advice of the best way to achieve those goals.
Find out from the
contractor that is giving you the bid, how busy they are and when
your job could be completed. Or if you don’t know if you want to
have the work completed yet, ask how long it would take from start
to finish for your job to be completed. Great contractors tend to
be busy and they will tell you how far behind their work schedule
is. Sometimes a job can’t be started for three months, other
times, if you have inside work, they can fit your job in when it
is raining outside. These are all things that you should be aware
of when working with any type of contractor.
Ask for an estimate from
the contractor. Always demand this estimate in writing. Ask the
contractor to include any statements he may have verbally made
such as, "this will last ten years" or "we apply two coats". Your
written estimate should be detailed. If you have a question, ask.
If you want a revision then ask for one. This estimate will become
a binding contract once you sign it. Leave nothing to
interpretation.
Now that you have decided
upon a price for your job, the contractor for the job and you
understand when your job is going to start and end, you should
consider getting a contract from the contractor. If your
contractor is afraid or reluctant to offer you a contract, with a
warrant of some type on the work that is going to be done, maybe
you need to re think your choice of contractors. Every contractor
should back their work even if it is just for six months. For
example, if they are going to put in a new ceiling in your living
room and the ceiling starts falling down after just two months,
the contractor should come and repair it. After the six months,
the contractor is no longer responsible. Don’t allow your work to
start, and don’t give any type of deposit for work unless a
contract has been signed. While most often you are not going to
run into a problem, that one time that you don’t have a contract
that states who is responsible for what and when the work is to be
completed and how it is going to be completed, that is the one
time you could have a problem.
It is important to not
allow the contractor to sell you on the spot. You need time to
compare his estimate to your other estimates and do some research.
Always obtain at least three estimates. I suggest more than three
if you have the time. When comparing the estimates look at
more than price. Price is the last thing you should be concerned
with because it's not what you pay it's what you get.
Contractor ABC may be trying to sell you a poor quality job for a
high cost, while Contractor XYZ may be trying to sell you a high
quality job at a moderate cost. You have to compare "scopes of
work". This is why you need a detailed estimate. You can not make
a decision until all contractors are bidding for the same scope of
work.
Always ask for proof of
licenses. If the contractor has them he should have no problem
providing them to you. This is not an option, always insist on
written documentation. Always ask to see similar work. Don' t
settle for pictures, demand addresses. Ask to speak to past
customers.
Investigate, Investigate,
Investigate. Because home owners make un-educated decisions based
on lowest bidder and are upset when they find out why the bid they
choose was the lowest. Call the
state licensing board. Make sure the license wasn't revoked or
forged. Drive by these addresses and take a look, if it's exterior
work. Check with the
Better Business Bureau,
Attorney General, Chamber of Commerce or any affiliations
local contractors may have and ask if the contractors have any
complaints.
Now you know you are
dealing with reputable contractors. Now you know all contractors
are bidding to do the same work. Who do you choose? Do you think
it is safe to go with the lowest price? Maybe; But who has the
better warranty? Who has more experience with this type of work?
Who took the time to really make sure you understood the process?
Who do you feel more comfortable speaking with? Do you have a hard
time contacting any of these contractors? If you have a hard time
in the sales process, image the response (or lack of response) you
will get if you make a warranty claim!
How far apart are these
proposals in price? If they are all essentially the same scope of
work by legitimate contractors then they should all pretty much be
in the same ball park money figure. If not, you have to ask
yourself why.
After you have qualified
all of your potential contractors, you know they are all worthy of
your business, the contractor that earns your business is the one
you trust the most. TRUST. |