Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Contractor

Renovating, fixing or simply sprucing up an area of your home can completely transform a space. Consumers searching for painters, remodelers, and other contractors should feel confident with their search, and be equipped to get the best service that matches their expectations. Here are some things to avoid so that your project is successful, on budget, and meets your expectations:

- Lack of References
- Limited Recommendations
- Lack of Experience
- Few Comparables
- Lack of Good Questions

References:

A logical step when figuring out if you want to work with someone is to find out if what they are telling you is true. Can they back up their work? You want to make sure that you can verify that they are successful in the job you are asking them to do. Seeing images on their site is good, but talking to an actual customer and asking a few questions is better. That way you can ask more specific questions that may impact your type of project.

Recommendations:

Before you select a contractor, make sure that you ask for recommendations from people you trust, your community, or at the very least check the contractor’s site for their customer recommendations. Websites like NextDoor, Yelp, and Facebook help you get recommendations from the community, neighbors, and friends.

Experience is Key:

Contractors come and go. We’ve all heard horror stories of someone who paid a contractor thousands of dollars to complete a job, only to be left in the lurch with their home in shambles. There are even entire programs on cable TV dedicated to helping the victims of these fly by night contractors who defraud homeowners.

When it comes to your home, play it safe and stick with an experienced contractor. Find a contractor that has been in business for at least 5-10 years. The longer they have been around, the less likely they are to flake on you. They have to maintain their reputation to remain in business, so it is their best interest to keep customers happy.

Shop Around:

Always get multiple quotes/estimates when bidding a project. There is a reason that contractors charge what they do. You are paying for materials used, skilled workers, insurance and liability factors, better customer service, faster turn around, etc. Get quotes from all ends of the spectrum so that you know exactly what you are paying for and what the comparables are.

Ask the Right Questions:

Do your research before you call. Depending on the complexity of your project, you’ll want to do your homework. Some contractors will give you an estimate based on specifications that you give them. A good contractor will ask to come out and inspect the area before they give you a quote.

Your home is probably the biggest investment that you have or will ever make, so when searching for a painter, remodeler, or other contractors, you should not be afraid to make an investment that will give you security knowing it will be done right!

You want to trust that your home will be left in good hand, and that each contractor on the job site will respect your home, do top-of-line work, and give you a fair quote for their work. These 5 steps above will help you find professionals, and help you to make a more informed decision.

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