My OperaHow to Select a Contractor?
Monday, March 19, 2012 10:57:41 AM
If they answer "no" to any of these questions, simply thank them for talking with you and move on to the next person on your list. Take notes on your conversations, carefully keeping information organized for each contractor. Be sure that you have at least three contractors scheduled to provide estimates.
When the contractor comes to your home, explain the work you want done. Ask the contractor to outline the best way to achieve your goals. Continue to take notes on your conversations. Ask the contractor to provide a detailed written estimate of the project, including any guarantees he/she makes or any statements about particular types of materials recommended. Thank the contractor for his/her time and set a time when you will notify him/her of your decision. This is also the appropriate time to ask for references, ask to see his/her license and proof of insurance. Check out any references provided by a contractor. You might also ask the contractor to identify recent similar work in the area. Go and look at those sites. If possible, ask those customers if they are happy with the work. Some of the questions you might want to ask these people include:
* Were you able to communicate easily with the contractor?
* Was the quality of the work satisfactory?
* Was the promised schedule maintained?
* Were your questions, complaints, or problems resolved quickly?
* Were the members of the work crew polite, neat, and respectful of your home and family?
* Would you use this contractor again?
When you have all of the estimates (at least 3), compare them carefully. Compare the estimates for more than price. Compare the details on the quality of materials, the quality of the work. Then rank the estimates in your mind.
The next step is to investigate the contractor and the information he/she has provided. Call the contractor's insurance company to confirm that the insurance has not lapsed. Call the state licensing board to ensure the license is effective and that it has never been revoked for any reason. Check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure there have been no complaints against the contractor.
Finally, trust your instincts. If there is something about a contractor that doesn't sound right or feel right, if something in the contractor's behavior while in your home doesn't feel professional, or if you just don't trust one of the contractors who provided an estimate, don't hire that contractor.
Now, make your final evaluation of all the information you have gathered. If the contractors are all reputable and they are proposing to complete the job in essentially the same way with the same quality of materials, their bids should be relatively close in price. If they are not, you need to ask yourself why one of the bids is significantly higher or lower than the others.
Once you have made your decision, notify the contractors you did not select for the job. Call and award the job to the contractor you have selected and request a written contract that specifies all of the details that made you select him/her, such as higher quality materials, better guarantee on the work, etc. Establish a start date for the project and an expected completion date. These dates should be included in the contract.
How to Select a Contractor, How to Select a Contractor, Selecting a Contractor
When the contractor comes to your home, explain the work you want done. Ask the contractor to outline the best way to achieve your goals. Continue to take notes on your conversations. Ask the contractor to provide a detailed written estimate of the project, including any guarantees he/she makes or any statements about particular types of materials recommended. Thank the contractor for his/her time and set a time when you will notify him/her of your decision. This is also the appropriate time to ask for references, ask to see his/her license and proof of insurance. Check out any references provided by a contractor. You might also ask the contractor to identify recent similar work in the area. Go and look at those sites. If possible, ask those customers if they are happy with the work. Some of the questions you might want to ask these people include:
* Were you able to communicate easily with the contractor?
* Was the quality of the work satisfactory?
* Was the promised schedule maintained?
* Were your questions, complaints, or problems resolved quickly?
* Were the members of the work crew polite, neat, and respectful of your home and family?
* Would you use this contractor again?
When you have all of the estimates (at least 3), compare them carefully. Compare the estimates for more than price. Compare the details on the quality of materials, the quality of the work. Then rank the estimates in your mind.
The next step is to investigate the contractor and the information he/she has provided. Call the contractor's insurance company to confirm that the insurance has not lapsed. Call the state licensing board to ensure the license is effective and that it has never been revoked for any reason. Check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure there have been no complaints against the contractor.
Finally, trust your instincts. If there is something about a contractor that doesn't sound right or feel right, if something in the contractor's behavior while in your home doesn't feel professional, or if you just don't trust one of the contractors who provided an estimate, don't hire that contractor.
Now, make your final evaluation of all the information you have gathered. If the contractors are all reputable and they are proposing to complete the job in essentially the same way with the same quality of materials, their bids should be relatively close in price. If they are not, you need to ask yourself why one of the bids is significantly higher or lower than the others.
Once you have made your decision, notify the contractors you did not select for the job. Call and award the job to the contractor you have selected and request a written contract that specifies all of the details that made you select him/her, such as higher quality materials, better guarantee on the work, etc. Establish a start date for the project and an expected completion date. These dates should be included in the contract.
How to Select a Contractor, How to Select a Contractor, Selecting a Contractor
