There are two things in life that are almost impossible to find. One is a great mechanic with good rates and the other is a stellar home repair contractor who will do great work at a reasonable cost. When you find either of these mythical creatures, you will keep sending them business for years. The problem is, you have to find them first. Here are some tips to help you on your search for a great home repair contractor.
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Start With the Trade License
You need to verify that a contractor at least meets the minimum requirements for a license in your area. Often you can call the trade body itself to determine if a particular contractor has a license, if it has ever been revoked, or if it has expired. You can also research this information online or by calling your local chamber of commerce.
Check the Insurance
Good contractors will carry liability insurance to protect them against accidents that occur in your home. If they don't have valid insurance, then you are not only responsible for any damage they cause to your home, but also for any injuries sustained by the contractor or his crew. Insurance is a good indicator of responsibility, so avoid contractors who don't have it, even if they come highly recommended.
Check the Better Business Bureau
A five minute search of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website or a call to the attorney general in your area can tell you a lot about the contractor you are looking to hire. You can also check state business filings, which will tell you if the contractor is in good standing with the state and thus can be relied upon to finish projects that are started. Avoid contractors with histories indicatives of unfinished work, prolonged projects, or legal trouble.
Check Criminal Records
Contractors have intimate access to your home and your family, so you want to be sure they are trustworthy. Determining if someone has a criminal record is free and simple to do with third parties on the Internet. You need only pay for a full background check if you find that the contractor has a record and you want to know the details. Be sure to check your local or state sex offender registry as well. A criminal record isn't necessarily a reason not to hire a contractor, but it may give you pause when evaluating candidates.
Get Bids
Get bids from several different companies before you go to the trouble of vetting individuals. You'll want to have contractors come to your house and give you an estimate for both the time needed to do the work and for the materials involved. Estimates should include everything from preparation work all the way to the final clean up.
It is a good idea to try to estimate the cost of materials for a project yourself. Doing this is a great way to not only check the cost a contractor quotes you, but also his or her knowledge of what the project requires. You can get help estimating costs by using online tools or by visiting your local home improvement store.
Business Longevity
Another way to vet an individual contractor is to look into business longevity. A contractor won't last long if he or she is cutting corners and ripping people off. Anyone who has been in business for more than five years is probably doing good work. Of course, if you want to give the new guy on the block a chance, just do a little more research into their bid, other jobs they've performed, training, license status, and so forth. A good company, like Fred DC handyman services, will have a professional website to compliment their brick and mortar establishment and will be upfront with pricing, who will be doing the work, etc.
The Bottom Line
Keep in mind that you may not always want to hire a contractor if the project is within your capabilities or your budget simply won't allow it. If you do decide to hire a contractor, follow the tips above to help ensure you find a reliable, trustworthy company to do the work. You'll be the supervisor on this project, so start off on the right foot by vetting your contractor and ensuring that a payment scheme and project expectations are specified up front.
Alan Rosinski has worked in home maintenance for several years. He knows that proper care of a home can help it stay in top shape for years to come. He often blogs about his experiences in routine repair and maintenance challenges.
Start With the Trade License
You need to verify that a contractor at least meets the minimum requirements for a license in your area. Often you can call the trade body itself to determine if a particular contractor has a license, if it has ever been revoked, or if it has expired. You can also research this information online or by calling your local chamber of commerce.
Check the Insurance
Good contractors will carry liability insurance to protect them against accidents that occur in your home. If they don't have valid insurance, then you are not only responsible for any damage they cause to your home, but also for any injuries sustained by the contractor or his crew. Insurance is a good indicator of responsibility, so avoid contractors who don't have it, even if they come highly recommended.
Check the Better Business Bureau
A five minute search of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website or a call to the attorney general in your area can tell you a lot about the contractor you are looking to hire. You can also check state business filings, which will tell you if the contractor is in good standing with the state and thus can be relied upon to finish projects that are started. Avoid contractors with histories indicatives of unfinished work, prolonged projects, or legal trouble.
Check Criminal Records
Contractors have intimate access to your home and your family, so you want to be sure they are trustworthy. Determining if someone has a criminal record is free and simple to do with third parties on the Internet. You need only pay for a full background check if you find that the contractor has a record and you want to know the details. Be sure to check your local or state sex offender registry as well. A criminal record isn't necessarily a reason not to hire a contractor, but it may give you pause when evaluating candidates.
Get Bids
Get bids from several different companies before you go to the trouble of vetting individuals. You'll want to have contractors come to your house and give you an estimate for both the time needed to do the work and for the materials involved. Estimates should include everything from preparation work all the way to the final clean up.
It is a good idea to try to estimate the cost of materials for a project yourself. Doing this is a great way to not only check the cost a contractor quotes you, but also his or her knowledge of what the project requires. You can get help estimating costs by using online tools or by visiting your local home improvement store.
Business Longevity
Another way to vet an individual contractor is to look into business longevity. A contractor won't last long if he or she is cutting corners and ripping people off. Anyone who has been in business for more than five years is probably doing good work. Of course, if you want to give the new guy on the block a chance, just do a little more research into their bid, other jobs they've performed, training, license status, and so forth. A good company, like Fred DC handyman services, will have a professional website to compliment their brick and mortar establishment and will be upfront with pricing, who will be doing the work, etc.
The Bottom Line
Keep in mind that you may not always want to hire a contractor if the project is within your capabilities or your budget simply won't allow it. If you do decide to hire a contractor, follow the tips above to help ensure you find a reliable, trustworthy company to do the work. You'll be the supervisor on this project, so start off on the right foot by vetting your contractor and ensuring that a payment scheme and project expectations are specified up front.
Alan Rosinski has worked in home maintenance for several years. He knows that proper care of a home can help it stay in top shape for years to come. He often blogs about his experiences in routine repair and maintenance challenges.