Hiring a Contractor: Essential Things to Keep in Mind

When hiring contractors, it's important to note that not all contractors are the same. You'll find companies that are cheap, some that use the best contractor tools (and some that don't) and you'll find some that charge an arm and a leg. The key, is finding a quality contractor that you feel comfortable with and does a job that is up to or exceed your expectations. To do this, we've listed the top factors to keep in mind when looking to hire a contractor.

Pro Tip:

Ask for Contractor Referrals

One of the first few places to start when you're looking to hire contractors is your friends, neighbors and co-workers. You'll want to ask them if they know of a contractor company that they have hired before that they would recommend or refer.

If you have a specific issue with your contractings, like lack of structure, you can ask for referrals of contractor companies that they know of that have helped them with their lack of structure or whatever other issue you are having (ie. inadequate risk management, limited skills, delayed cash flow, poor communication, etc.)

Pro Tip:

Reviews of Contractors

After checking out references that you received for contractors, you'll want to check online reviews. You should be able to find online reviews for just about any contractor in your local area. This can very helpful, but can also be overwhelming and misleading at times. Here are a few guidelines to help you as you sift through all of the reviews:

An overwhelmingly positive or negative review of a contractor could be a sign of a fake review- so take that into considerations.

Make a special note of contractors that have received a great deal of reviews. A lot of reviews combined with 4.5 to 5 stars is a big sign that the contractor company got those legitimately.

Keep an eye out for reviews that compare their experience with other contractors. Giving these details adds validity to the reviewer who has actually hired a local contractor.

Here are a few examples of valid reviews of contractors:

"We recently hired a contractor for an extensive remodel and could not be happier with the results! Not only were we delighted with the beauty of the end product, but we also felt supported throughout by our contractor - from start to finish. We have received numerous compliments from friends and family on how amazing our new home looks, which has given us even more reason to feel satisfied with our decision. As experienced veterans in this process, we appreciate all that goes into managing a complex project like this one; which is why its important to know that you are selecting a reliable partner who can deliver top-notch service at every stage"

"Searching for the perfect contractor to paint my home’s exterior was an intimidating task, but eventually I found just the right fit. Once I decided that this particular contractor would take on the challenge of painting my house, they hit the ground running and didn’t miss a beat throughout the process. The results were remarkable; it was evident that there had been a true commitment to delivering quality service in both speed and accuracy. It is always wonderful when you can find reliable contractors who understand your needs while still getting the job done in an efficient manner with stunning results."

"Dave truly cares about his clients. From his expertise and experience as a professional contractor, he not only provided us with sound advice about the plumbing job itself, but also offered helpful insights about additional issues impacting our home. We wanted to express how deeply we appreciated all of the amazing advise he gave us during this process - it truly made a difference in helping us make the best decisions for our family's needs."

Pro Tip:

Contractor References

Once you have gathered referrals and checked online reviews of the contractor companies, you want to call the company directly and ask them for at least 2 recent references. These should be from customers they have completed work for within the past month. Also, you can ask for references for specific issues like inadequate risk management, lack of structure, limited skills, poor communication, delayed cash flow or just general contracting issues. Here are some questions you could ask the contractors' references:

What work did the contractor do for you? A small contracting issue or big contracting issue will give you insight as to the scale of the project. Was it for limited skills, delayed cash flow, inadequate risk management, poor communication, lack of structure or just general contracting issues?

Did the contractor provide a contract with details of the work? Did they provide what methods will be used, possible issues, etc.

How was the staff that completed the contractor work? Professional, clean, friendly? Ask about the things that you care about.

Was the contractor work completed per the agreed upon budget?

How were the contractors results? Did they meet or exceed your expectations?

Would you hire the contractor again?

Pro Tip:

Pro Tip:

Always make sure the contractor company is using the proper tools and a specialized contractor software that is custom to the industry. Servgrow is a popular software among contractor companies.

Licensed and Insured Contractor Company

When hiring a contractor, that last think you want to do is hire one that is not a legitimate business and has no license and insurance. Just because you know that contractor companies should be licensed, bonded and insured, don't take this for granted.

Contractors that do not have a license will most likely try to cut corners because they understand that they are not as accountable for their work. In fact, it's illegal for them to operate without a license.

Professional contractor companies will have no problem showing you all the necessary documents, licenses and insurance to operate their business.

Final Notes on Hiring a Contractor

Hiring a contractor can be challenging at first, but using these tips above should get you started in the right direction. And keep in mind that it could take a couple different contractors that you hire before finding that perfect one- and when you find that perfect one, don't let them go!

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Hiring a Contractor: Essential Things to Keep in Mind

Pro Tip:

Ask for Contractor Referrals

Pro Tip:

Reviews of Contractors

Pro Tip:

Contractor References

Pro Tip:

Pro Tip:

Licensed and Insured Contractor Company

Final Notes on Hiring a Contractor

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