I have found that many contractors are just not reliable and I would like to know how to know if a contractor will be a good fit. I have found that even if they have had a good reviews that they are not always as good as people say they are, or that they were only good at what they did for that person! This is just so frustrating. I had even found out that the last contract that had decent reviews was not even as good as others said and after I searched the web I also found out that that person Ryan Holmes is also the San Diego Chapter of the National Association of the Remodel Industry (NARI). That is really hard to belive after the way both my spouse and I were rudely treated by him and he did not even finish the estimate! I do not like men who discriminate against women as he had done with me! Any advice for finding a reliable, competent, great work ethic, good communication for a contractor?
Hello Debra,
Sorry to hear of your poor experiance. The only true way I know is through word of mouth from someone you trust. Even then that contractor could have things happen beyond their control that may make your experiance with them less then perfect.
If this is not possible, your intuition and your experiance before the sale should be a good indicator. Also ask for referances of their last few jobs. If they did a great job with past customers, they should be more than happy to tell you of their experiance.
Good luck with your project and hope this helps alittle.
Kevin Coyman
Cheminée Design Co.
Always check reviews. Word of mouth in my opinion is the best way to go. Places like YP or Buildzoom or even Facebook…
In simple terms there is no perfect way for someone to figure out if a contractor is a good fit. As others have mentioned intuition and professional conduct is of the essence. I am a Building Contractor in Naples, Florida and have found that a personalized interview with my clients serve as a strong foundation to begin a relationship. I usually meet my clients at the comfort of their location, either their current home or any other environment that they may feel at ease; from here I have a set parameter of questions to make sure that both parties can coexist with the relationship since building someone’s dream should be taken as serious as any other matter. Of course I also encourage the future home owner to interact with the interview process to allow for the same type of feedback. One essential element to keep in mind when hiring a contractor is that they have to be licensed in the State they are performing the work, this would allow for you to submit formal complaints if the need arises.
It is disappointing to hear situations like yours within our industry; contractors that have a passion for their work would never disregard or ignore what a customer has to say, especially when it involves couples. I typically provide 5 references of previous customers for my future client to call and ask questions; also, appearance, intellectual level of speech, condition of their vehicles and equipment, and overall presentation should provide you with a strong assessment as to the professionalism of a certain entity. I always tell my clients that company names can be modified, they come and go, but the license holder, the actual individual with which you will engage in business must make a strong presentation not only for their firm but also for the industry.
Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Unfortunately, there are not as good contractors out there and it’s not only frustrating to customers but to other contractors also, as a designer, I experienced working with the very good contractors and the very bad, so I would recommend letting your designer interview your contractor, the questions we, designers, ask are very specific and we quickly know if that contractor is good or bad, plus, designers usually recommend contractors they have worked with and trust so they could give you great recommendations, I know sometimes, it’s not in the budget to hire a designer but believe me it’s worth it not to deal with bad contractors.
One other way to find out if the contractor is good or bad is to ask for the name and contact of a recent customer and call them up, I know a lot of contractors I work with who offer this method because they know they are that good, if the contractor says no, then you know he’s hiding something.
Good luck!
MDESIGNS. McLean VA
My honest opinion is ask the contractor for a referall list from past work. You should ask for similar referalls that are appropriare for the work you want doing. In other words dont get referalls for an addition if you are wanting a bathroom estimate unless you want a bathroom addition of course. Some contarctors are good at one thing and bad at others. Always check license and general liability. All contractors have to be bonded to have an active license.
Suggest to only use contractor if you have actually seen their work. Go by reliable references only. As you visit someones home, if you like what you see, ask for a telephone number. Set information aside for when needed. Do not use anyone unless you have actually see the quality of their work. Best of luck.
Word of mouth from people you trust is always a great way to find competent, reliable services.
We offer to meet with the customer, face to face, so they get an idea for the quality of service we provide.
Also, keeping in contact with your customers or contractors so that the relationship stays fresh is always a good thing.
My best advice is to do your research. Ask friends and co-workers who have recently had work done about possible contractors. And don’t just take their word on a job well done, actually go and look at some remodeling/construction projects and see first-hand what they can do.If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If a contractor tells you he can do a job in an unreasonably short amount time and at an extremely low cost, 9 times out of 10 their bogus! Their are some great contractor out there that can get the job done in a timely and economical manner.
Best of Luck!!
Street Construction Co.
Virginia
Debra,
As mentioned previously there is no 100% guarantee that you will hire a “good” contractor everytime. As a general contractor in the Northwest Arkansas area we recieve almost all of our work from referrals. I would start by asking any neighbors that you have contact with in your own neighborhood. If the houses in your neighborhood are similar in size and design to yours than the contractors that work in that particular neighborhood will be a better fit for your work. Also, once you have a list of referrals call your local Home Builders Association and check on them. This doesn’t guarantee a good contractor, however, if a contractor takes the time and money to invest in their local HBA that typically indicated that they care about their work and business. Check with the BBB as well. Online searches can provide you with a lot of information, but they don’t always tell the whole story.
Jeremy Lewis
Craftsman Builders Inc.
There is no 1 answer.
However you find the contractor - Online, word of mouth, yellow pages or see their vehicle at a neighbors. You still have to do your homework.
- Look them up- their BBB rating, Angieslist, homeadvisor and of course Build zoom.
- Then do internet search and see of they come up on yelp or similar.
- Meet them and get a vibe face to face.
- How do they conduct themselves? courteous, knowledgeable, professional/ How do they write up the estimate or contract?
- and how fast do they respond all are key criteria.
Good luck
There is not a fix formula to know the behaviour of anyone. So it is very difficult to say how to know if a contractor will be a good fit. Through your experience and knowledge only you can guess. So you have to trust someone but I would like to suggest you before trust on anyone you must try to know past history of that person.
My father always told me “word of mouth” is the best advertisement. When you do a good job people recomend you to their friends and neighbors. It takes years to build a good name, but seconds to destroy it. If you seen them do good work chances are they will do good for you. If they did bad work you know not to hire them.
5 Most Destructive decisions a homeowner can make when hiring a contractor!!!
1. Hire a contractor without checking their references.
2. Hire a contractor without Liability and workers comp Insurance.
3. Hire a contractor that has not been in business more than 5 years.
4. Hire a contractor that doesn’t have the experience needed.
5. Hire a contractor just to get the lowest price.
5 Top Solutions for a Disaster free Contractor Hiring experience!!!
1. Always check references!! A Contractor without references is a contractor you don’t want to hire.
2. Always hire only insured Contractors. If you hire a contractor without insurance you take on all liability for their employees and any damage done. If one of the workers gets hurt, you are totally responsibly for any cost related.
3. 83 percent of roofing companies go out of business every year. You want to hire a proven company that will be around if any warranty issues arise.
4. Always hire professional contractors. The worst thing that can happen is to pay good money for a job and receive poor quality.
5. You should be concerned about price but don’t make it your number one goal in choosing a Contractor. You should choose your contractor first on what company you believe will do the best job for you, and leave you 100% percent satisfied when completed.Hi Debra,
I offer three suggestions in addition to the great advice already given:
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Word of Mouth - seek recommenations from people you trust who have similar tastes and expectations to your own
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Interview - take the time to interview a number of potential contractors. If you’ve never hired a contractor in the past, give yourself a broad enough exposure to the industry to make an informed decision. Evaluate the prospects on their communication, organization, ease of manner when discussing your concerns, and general personal presentation.
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Trust Your Gut - this is a person (and corresponding organization) which you will be inviting into your home and life. The most qualified, highly recommended contractor who doesn’t “feel right” to you is still the wrong person. You’ve got to feel good about the potential relationship; if you have mis-givings before the project starts, its hard to imagine the outcome being a happy one.
Your home improvement project should be enjoyable, not simply bearable. There are a lots of great contractors whom you could call friends after the project is done. There are also shady, unscrupulous rip off artists who call themselves contractors, too. The good news, is that the good outnumber the bad; its just unfortnunate that the horror stories get the bulk of the press coverage.
I sense you’ll be fine, though. You are doing your homework, and that is the foundation upon which you can build a long term relationship with a great craftsman. When you do find the right contractor, and they exceed your expectations, be sure to circle back and let the rest of the world know by posting a note about your positive experience. It will be of great value to future customers and to your new found contractor friend.
Ask for references, credentials and his portfolio. You might also want to visit projects he is currently working on.
There are many ways and many different theories out there to pick the best Contractor for your job. Some key things to look for: The price (don’t always go for the cheapest), Their website, Make sure they have actually come out and taken a look at your project before providing a quote, Check the quality of the proposal they give you (Make sure it’s not just a one page handout), as always trust your gut!
You can also ask the contractor for references to talk to past customers about their experience with that company.
Hello and Great question I may add.
Word of mouth referral would most likely be your best option to start with. However, If you have to interview a contractor that’s not a referral then I advise you to research them thoroughly and interview with caution.
- (Internet search -Google their name followed by complaints after. See if anything comes up?)
- Read the reviews on their Webpage.
- Read their review with the Better Business bureau.
- Research their company or name on the State Licensing website.
- Ask for their credentials, Builders License and Insurance Certificate (Call their insurance company to verify)
- See if they arrive on time or call if their going to be late. (Communication goes along way.)
- Ask how long they’ve been in business.
- Ask for referrals.
- Ask for the address of where they’ve worked. (Go inspect their workmanship).
- If it’s inside work needed done, ask for pictures (Before & After).
- Pay attention to details: Observe how thorough he or she may be during interview and estimate process. If they’re as detailed with the estimate and proposal. Chances are they will be detailed with their workmanship as well.
These are just a few helpful ideas to assist you through your endeavor.
Have a wonderful day!
Jesse Giermanski,
Modern Xterior Improvement
A good solid contractor is difficult to find. Many claim they are trusted reliable and responsible but rarely they are. Check license and make sure its current. Do research on the contractor and read the reviews. Ask for references and ensure what others are saying make sense.
Follow your gut!
The best way to hire a contractor is to first check his licence and work-permit. Also try to get an estimate cost of each and every service you are doing so that you deduct the price in case you won'y like to be done the remodeling in some particular part of your house.