Guidelines for Choosing a Contractor
Professional, experienced contractors can complete home improvement projects more safely, efficiently, and appropriately than you can in some cases—and in others, you might just prefer to hand a job off to someone who's more suited to do the work. But you can also get into trouble with a
Posted — UpdatedProfessional, experienced contractors can complete home improvement projects more safely, efficiently, and appropriately than you can in some cases—and in others, you might just prefer to hand a job off to someone who's more suited to do the work. But you can also get into trouble with a contractor if you choose someone who's not right for the job. Some potential pitfalls of choosing the wrong contractor could include an unfinished job, problems that will have to be fixed by someone else, theft, or even a lien on your own home. It's important to take the time to choose the right contractor for the job.
Before you start looking, be very clear about what you want and need. Spell out the scope of the project and check with city hall or a regional building agency to determine if you need any permits to perform the work. At the same time, you can ask about any state requirements for contractors doing the job. Some states, for example, require general contractors to have licenses. Work performed by an unlicensed contractor may not meet the building code. Make sure you understand the legal requirements from the start.
Once you have a list of prospective contractors, start researching them. All of their advertising materials should include their license numbers, if applicable, and you can contact the licensing agency to confirm their licenses are current and valid. You can also check for any complaints filed against them at the same time. The Better Business Bureau is another resource for looking up complaints. Verify the contractor's phone number and business address to confirm that you can get in touch with your contractor if you need to, and then contact the people on your list to start requesting bids.
It's a good idea to get at least three competing bids. Make sure each bid falls within the same parameters so you can get accurate comparisons, and review them closely to take note of the breakdown of costs for materials, labor, and other expenses. If a bid looks too good to be true, it probably is; a contractor may underbid in the hopes of getting the work, but not be able to complete the job at the quoted price. Or the contractor might cut corners to complete the work within cost.
Bonding, meanwhile, guarantees the work if there's a problem; for example, if the contractor leaves in the middle of the job, or the work needs to be redone because of poor workmanship. For small jobs, a standard license bond is usually enough. If a job is large, complex, or expensive, you should ask for a contract bond that will cover that specific job, ensuring that money will be available in the event of a problem. It is advisable to locate the financial institution bonding your contractor to get information to verify that it will be sufficient.