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Bringing a contractor into your home to do work on your place can be a real gamble. You are trusting them to do quality work in a timely manner, and for this professional to meet all standards and building codes. Unfortunately, many people end up hiring contractors that are unqualified and dishonest. These contractors cost the homeowners hundreds or even thousands of dollars. So when it comes time for you to find contractors to complete work in your home, make sure you choose wisely! Finding a Contractor: What You Need to Know Finding a contractor is actually a simple and straightforward procedure if you know what to look for. That is where the following list comes in, as it outlines everything you need to know and what you need to be looking for in a prospective contractor: • Is the contractor licensed and insured? It is extremely important that a prospective contractor is licensed to do the type of work you are requiring, and that he or she is licensed to do this work in your state. There are actually several different types of licenses that a contractor can receive, so make sure that the contractor is qualified to do the work that you need done. Additionally, it is vital that a contractor is licensed, and that he or she has Workers' Compensation insurance on all employees that will be looking in your home. If a contractor does not have adequate insurance and an employee is injured while working in your home, the employee can actually go after the homeowner for damages. Make sure that you do your research and know that a contractor is licensed and insured in order to protect your home and family. • Is the contractor in good standing with the community? Check with the Better Business Bureau as well as your state's consumer protection agency to ensure that the contractor is in good standing. It can be difficult to gauge a contractor's integrity simply by sifting through social media comments. Stick to resources you know you can trust, as well as referrals from friends and family the contractor has done quality work for in the past. • Can the contractor commit to a specific time frame? While it is true that problems often come up during a renovation or other home improvement job, a contractor should be willing to commit to a certain time frame for completing your job. If he or she is unwilling to commit, it probably means that he or she has too many jobs on their plate already, and yours is simply not a priority. If possible, have the time frame for completion worked into the contract, and have a penalty fee outlined if the contractor fails to complete the work within this reasonable deadline. • Is the bid reasonable? It is a good idea to get bids from your top 3 prospective contractors. A good rule of thumb is to toss out the lowest offer, especially if this bid is substantially lower than the other offers. This is because a low-ball offer often means that the contractor does not have the licensing or experience to complete the job well. While you are obviously working within a budget, you don't want to skimp on quality just to save some money. • How much does the contractor want up front? When you begin your search to find a contractor to do your renovation or home improvement project, you want to be as specific as possible with regards to expectations on both ends. Your contractor will definitely want money up front, but do not give him or her more than 30% of the total cost of the project! Do you need to contact a Service Provider immediately? Browse the list of Servitt https://servitt.com/browse-providers/ Providers below and quickly compare companies to find the right find a contractor for you.
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