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| Choosing a Reliable Contractor |
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 Choosing
a reliable contractor for home repair is the first and most important
step in getting a
job done right. A reliable contractor will work with you,
return
your calls, answer your questions, and stand behind their
work.
Generally, the best way
to choose a reliable contractor is through
referrals from people that you know. Often
times,
a referral is
much more important in the long run than the price.
Use your
network of friends to identify reliable home repair
contractors in your
area. Speak directly with their customers and ask lots of
questions:
- How flexible was their contractor about changes
to work orders?
- How
responsive were they to phone calls?
- How accurate were they with their
cost estimates and time frame to job completion estimates?
- Would your friends hire them again for the same
job or another job without hesitation?
If you are not familiar with an area, try calling the town hall and
speaking with the code enforcement officer.
He or she may have a few suggestions. An online
source or
phonebook can also get you started; just be sure to ask an
unknown
home repair contractor for several local references.
Once you have identified 3 to 5 reliable home repair contractors, give
them a call
to set up appointments to meet them and discuss the work to be done.
A first
impression goes a long way. You will be
talking
with them frequently so make sure that you get along well with them.
Also, remember that a good fit for someone else may not
always be a good fit for you.
Again, be sure to ask each contractor lots of questions (see links for
examples of work
specific questions to ask). Be sure they answer your
questions to
your satisfaction and are specific about the work they will complete.
Every reliable contractor should be able to provide a quote and be able
to break down your home repair/ remodel estimate in smaller chunks if
it is a
large job.
If your budget is tight, don't be afraid to ask for more than
one
number (with a bathroom and without a bathroom, for example).
Or
if you are a "do it yourselfer", are they willing to let you do pieces
of the work/ or work with them to lower the cost.
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