How to Spot a Worthy Contractor...

Over the last year, many homeowners have taken on home improvement projects that have become feasible due to the lack of recreational spending and more time being spent at home.

Whether you’ve been spending more time than usual at home and noticed things you’ve wish you could change or you’ve reached the savings goals needed to approach your remodel, it’s imperative that you find a contractor you can trust.

Often, for people that aren’t in the construction industry themselves, the process of choosing a contractor can be confusing. Below are some tips to help you choose a contractor that is trustworthy & talented.

First Things First… Are They Licensed?

This is non-negotiable… your contractor must be licensed, insured and bonded in your state. States have resources where licensed contractors can be looked up and verified. Checking this is the first step to your project. If the contractor you’re speaking with isn’t licensed, now is the time to back out.

Do They Have Good Reviews?

It’s perfectly reasonable to look at the reviews of a contractor before you contact them. Don’t just look on a “how many stars” level, really take the time to go through the reviews and read them. What happened with the bad reviews? Is there a common theme with this contractor where the same things go wrong time after time? Alternatively, is there a common theme with the 5-star reviews? Keep in mind, the construction industry can tend to be a bit behind when it comes to technology, especially if you’re looking to work with a small-scale contractor that works by themselves or only has one or two employees. Not having a web presence isn’t necessarily a red flag. If your potential contractor has no website or reviews, though, they should be ready to provide you with references in the form of past clients you can contact. If they can’t provide either for you to verify their legitimacy, it’s probably in your best interest to take a pass on this contractor.  

Do They Have Experience (And is it the Right Kind?)

While every beginner has to start somewhere, it’s not your responsibility as a homeowner to allow a new contractor to get their practice time in on your home. If a contractor is offering lower rates to account for their lack of experience, it’s almost a guarantee that while you may save money in your initial estimate, you’ll have to pay for their mistakes later.

Permits… This is a BIG Deal (and if your Contractor Disagrees, it’s Not a Good Fit)

While permitting isn’t the most fun part of any construction project, it is the law that any significant work done on your property needs to be properly permitted. If your contractor seems to hesitate when it comes to talking about plans and permits, or insists that this isn’t a necessary step, they are not only incorrect, but they are doing you the service of showing you a red flag before the project gets too far underway. In addition, if a contractor attempts to get you to do your own permitting, back away immediately and end the project. If you do your own permitting, not only are you paying a contractor to ask you to help them do their job, but the person who submits and fills out permitting is the one who must answer for the work if it ends up not being correct. You’re paying a contractor for many things, one of which is taking accountability for good construction and an effective permitting process.

Last But Not Least… What Kind of Person Are They?

Even if your contractor checks all of the boxes from the points made above: they’re licensed, insured, have great reviews and satisfied past clients, and tons of experience in the type of work that you’re interested in, there’s still a major requirement to check on. Do you actually get along with this person? Is it easy to communicate with them? Do you trust them and the people they work with? These things may seem silly, but it’s crucially important that you have a decent rapport with the people that will be spending so much time in your home. You’ll most likely be leaving them alone in your home, so you need to trust them. There will be snags that come up even with the most efficient contractors in the game, so you have to align with their attitude and how they deal with things. Whether or not a contractor enthusiastically approaches meeting you about your project, answers questions quickly, and respects your home (even in small ways like taking their shoes off at the door without being asked- this seems small but it’s very telling about someone’s level of respect for your home) says a lot about the type of experience you’ll have with this person.