Selecting Your Contractor

Selecting the right contractor to work on probably your most valuable asset is not always easy. How do you make the right choice? Should you choose the lowest priced bid, the contractor with the largest company, or your neighbor’s son who’ll do the work on a handshake?

Make the right decision and you’ll talk about them forever, make the wrong choice and you’ll probably be talking about them too, just not smiling when you’re doing it!

Following are Some Tips to Help You Decide

Tip #1: Review Bids Carefully - Price Isn't Everything

Don’t choose on price alone. “You usually get what you pay for” is so often true! You are about to make a serious investment of both money and time, and you should choose a contractor that can provide excellent workmanship, has experience doing the kind of job you need done, and offers a fair price - and that doesn’t always mean the cheapest. There are different factors at work, including cost of materials, and the actual process used to complete the project. So, make sure you review the bids carefully, comparing every aspect of the project before making your choice.

Tip #2: Check a Contractors Background - References, Licenses, Insurance

Check out the contractor’s business credentials and reputation. Find out how long they have been doing business in your area. Anyone can say they can do a job, but Contractors that have been around for several years have stayed in business for good reason – usually happy customers as a result of quality work and fair prices.

Check references. Any reputable business will have references available. Speak with past customers, and look at the work that was done for them. Find out about the complete experience with the contractor such as if the crew was respectful and cleaned up every day, if the project was completed on time and budget, if the foreman was easy to communicate with during the length of the work, and if they were able to offer suggestions and advice that assisted you in making good decisions.

Ask for proof of insurance and a contractor’s license. It is essential that your contractor has the proper credentials. Make sure they have a contractor’s license for the specific work you are having done. They must also carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance and General Liability Insurance, both of which can be verified by checking with your State Department of Commerce or the state Licensing Board. Do not select companies that do not provide Worker’s Compensation Insurance for their crews. This is an obvious hazard to their workers, but can also expose you to potential litigation in the event of a job site injury. Have they ever had a complaint filed? Check with the BBB to see if there have been complaints filed against a contractor. And if there were, were they resolved properly.

Tip #3: Estimates, Guarantees, Payment Requirements

Get an estimate and any guarantees in writing. Do not leave your project to chance and memory. Get an estimate, final contract and any guarantees in writing. Make sure that everything the contractor promises to provide including materials, crew, equipment, preparation work and time estimates is clearly spelled out. Guarantees on materials and workmanship should also be clear.

What are the payment requirements? You should not need to leave a deposit of more than 25%. Beware of contractors that ask for everything upfront. A solid business will have a good enough cash flow, and enough confidence in their own work to wait for final payment at the end of the project and upon complete satisfaction.

Tip #4: Trust Your Instincts

Pay attention to your overall feeling about the contractor. You can’t under estimate the importance of a good working relationship with a contractor. They could be with you for as little as a day but for as long as several months, so you want to be sure that you get along.