Things to Look for When Choosing a Contractor

As the old adage goes, “your home is your biggest investment”, so it only makes sense to choose carefully when considering having someone work on your home. 

The very word “contractor” strikes fear in the heart of most people that have ever had the displeasure of working with some of the more unsavory characters that litter the construction industry.  And honestly, there is a lot of truth to the stereotypical views and opinions that people have of contractors in general.  There is an abundance of bozos that have done their level best to trash the reputation of our industry, making it more and more difficult for those of us who take pride in our work and try to operate our businesses with honesty and integrity.

I would like to take a few minutes to discuss what you as a homeowner should look for when choosing a contractor to do business with.  This is not meant to be an exhaustive list.  You can add to it if there are other questions that you feel are important in helping you decide what contractor to choose.

Do they answer the phone?  This is just about as basic as it gets.  People want to talk to someone when they call.  If a contractor won’t make the time to speak with you when you call to request information or an estimate for their services, then what are the chances they will call you back when there is a problem?  If you leave a voice mail, do they call you back within a couple of hours, or at least by the close of business that day?  Find a contractor who takes you serious and answers the phone.  If you left a voice mail, they should be returning your call within a couple of hours, but no later than by the close of business that day.

Appearance.  If you have called and set an appointment to visit with a contractor, what is the salespersons appearance when they arrive at your home?  Are they clean cut and dressed nicely including a shirt with company name or logo?  Someone who is unkempt or has a disheveled appearance more than likely will take the same approach when it comes to the quality of their work.  If they can’t get it together enough to care about their own personal hygiene, then it’s doubtful that they can get it together enough to work on a home that doesn’t belong to them.

Insurance.  Do they have General Liability insurance?  If so, ask to see a copy of the policy.  If they can’t provide a copy of their insurance policy, then walk away.  You do not want to get involved with a contractor that is not insured to perform the type of work required to complete your project.

Do they use employees or sub-contractors?  If a company uses its own employees, they should be carrying Workers Compensation insurance on each of them.  If they don’t, and one of their employees gets hurt on your property, you could be held liable for their medical expenses, not to mention the potential for a lawsuit.  Ask to see a copy of their Workers Compensation insurance policy.  If the company uses sub-contractors to do their work, then those sub-contractors should carry their own General Liability insurance.  Ask to see a copy of the subs’ insurance policy.  This opens you up to a whole range of problems if they don’t carry the proper insurance.  Again, if they can’t or won’t provide you a copy of what you are asking for, then walk away. 

Get it in writing.  Does the contractor write up a proposal or estimate that serves as the price quote, contract, invoice and labor warranty all on one sheet of paper, with no signatures by either party?  Make sure the contractor provides you with a firm written price quotation and a win-win detailed Construction Agreement, signed by both parties, before any work begins.  This not only protects the contractor, but it also protects you.  Also, make sure that you will be getting a written product and/or labor warranty for the work performed.  Some contractors like to do everything by “word of mouth”.  Do not fall for this nonsense.  Be certain that you have a firm price quotation with a Construction Agreement detailing everything about the project and signed by both you and the contractor.  It protects you both.  Remember, if it’s not in writing, it never happened.

A question of ethics.  Does the contractor cut corners or operate in an unethical manner?  What I mean by this is, if you hear something they say that doesn't sound right, or if their estimate is substantially lower than other estimates you have received, then rest assured, they will be cutting corners when they work on your home to make up for their low-ball price.  Some contractors will tell you that you don’t need a building permit and that “we will give you your money back if the project is red flagged by the city any time in the future.”  I have personally heard this comment from a contractor.  This behavior is beyond unethical.  Are we really to believe that this company is going give you a full refund if the city red flags the job 2 or 3 years from now because the proper permits were not obtained before the construction phase of the project began?  If the company is trying to talk you out of a building permit, then will the job even be built according to current building code standards?  Will the company even be in business tomorrow to give you that “full refund” they so proudly talk about?   Don’t be fooled.

The list could go on and on, but these are just a few things to think about before choosing a contractor to complete your project.
What are some things that you as a homeowner would add to this list if you were searching for a reputable contractor?  We would love to hear them!