Honesty and Trustworthiness
In order for a homeowner to protect his home and his finances, it’s important to know that the contractor conducts his or her company in a trustworthy manner.
General contractors should signal trustworthiness from the first meeting. He should advise and bring copies of his licenses and insurance to the initial meeting, in case the homeowner asks to see them. A website with contact information, including a physical mailing address and business license, also shows clients that you’re running an honest business.
Does the contractor think with the end in mind? You have received a recommendation and have checked their insurances and references; in other words, you have done your due diligence. Your next step is to have a meeting face to face. In doing so, ask well prepared questions. You are looking for honest, straightforward answers and whether the contractor really understands design elements or is still back in the dark ages. Does he coddle you or does he meets your real needs.
I believe most customers want quality construction first and foremost. Contractors vary in background and social skills so I think most customers are very smart & aware when dealing with different levels of contractors. You may have a very likeable contractor then you will have a contractor that is a little rough around the edges maybe a bit antisocial but all in all their quality of work and integrity speaks volumes. In addition to find a good contractor that can deal with every type of customer is also a very special & unique find as well. So “construction quality” is number one but to find someone personable & charasmatic is just an added bonus.
Honesty! I think you want to make sure the contractor you are using is honest and conscientious about his/her work. He/she should take pride in their work and be happy to share with you past work as well as quality referrals from past clients.
Homeowner’s should always look for 5 things before hiring a professional contractor
1)- Experience- General contractor needs experience in every aspect of construction, from basic repairs to designing to building homes. Even though contractors hire sub contractors to do the job they need to know every aspect of the job. Contractors are responsible for scheduling the work and assures that every sub contractor completes their tasks on time with the highest level of quality
2) Reputation- this is directly proportionate to the quality of the work and service that the contractor has to offer. Look at the reviews and also read the companies comments on how they respond back.
3) Integrity- General contractors will do exactly what they say they will, They will stand behind every aspect of the work that they oversee, this does not mean that there will not be any mistakes, this just means that the contractor will work to rectify the situation quickly. In addition the contractor will act responsible when it comes to keeping the work site organized and will dispose of trash properly.
4) Flexibility- This pertains both to skill and ability to alter schedules to complete the work. You will need a general contractor that is able and willing to take on every aspect of your project within the time frame that you set. This may mean weekends, extra hours, and even evenings, this is what flexible means.
5) Listening Skills - to start off this is your home your remodel and your voice should be heard. Let the contractor know exactly what you want and why you want it. The general contractor is not to convince you to do it another way, they do as you wish. Sometimes homeowners want things done that are structurally impossible or cost-prohibitive, the general contractor will explain why it cannot be done and offer an alternative that will work in a similar fashion
Good luck
There is no test to be made all you have to do is look at the reputation
2) Reputation- this is directly proportionate to the quality of the work and service that the contractor has to offer. Look at the reviews and also read the companies comments on how they respond back.
Great question! The short answer is trust. How a homeowner arrives at that conclusion is based on several factors such as:
Previous customer reviews
Online visibility
Professional presentation
Confidence when speaking
Licenses
Experience
So, if you want to earn the trust of a homeowner, then you must build your online visibility and knowledge. And, remember that natural confidence is built through experience, so get out there and continue to build up your confidence (if you are a contractor).
What a Homeowner should look for is usually an unknown factor but easily answered in a meeting with the contractor. The formality of the first meeting is the key introduction that a contractor makes when He steps into your home. As you engage in the project description you will get a gut feeling for how it will progress. Asking a couple of questions like, " what time do you start and do you clean up every day," are important questions to ask because it will be the litmus test for when you hire your contractor. If He’s late every day or the jobsite is filthy start getting ready for that to progress into other areas.
integrity, good reputation and their being honest with clients. Contractors should be consultants helping customers achieve their dream homes. Work should be of high quality. Good and constant communication between contractor and homeowner should be consistent.
I highly recommend all clients to do this. Speaking with recent clients gives the potential client reasons as to go with our company or not it all depends on what service you give them and how everything worked out in the project.
**EXPERIENCE!!! [poll type=regular results=on_vote chartType=pie groups=BuildZoom-Pro close=2020-03-11T17:00:00.000Z]