Things to know before hiring a contractor

Hiring a contractor for any size project, big or small. can be a very tedious task.  There are certain things that you should know before making the final decision on which contractor to hire.  Just because they have a magnet on the side of their vehicle doesn’t mean just go and hire them.  We will address some of the “Need to Know” information you should have before making that decision.

1. Are they licensed, insured, bonded etc.  Basically do they have the necessary credentials needed to legally operate and do they have the necessary insurance(s) needed to protect you, the homeowner, in the event damages were to take place.  Always ask for proof of insurance.   If they refuse to Furnish you or give you some excuse on why they can not produce this information then you should see this as a red flag and likely mark this contractor off of your list of available candidates to work on your project.
2. Get References.  References is a great way to see what kind of work and what kind of impression the contractor has left with previous customers they have done work for.  Try to always get three of more references.  This will give you a decent gauge of previous work done.  Also, try and establish what kind of relationship the contractor has with their previous customer that is providing the reference.  The reason for this is that you don’t want to get a reference from their best friend or family member.  You want it to be a legit customer with no personal ties to the contractor.
3. Experience.  What kind of experience / education do they have in the field in which they are providing work for?  Be sure to discuss their background with them.  Also, how long have they been doing what they do for a living?  If they have been providing these services in the same area for 15 years then it’s pretty likely that they do decent work or they would be out of business.  However, don’t always mistake years of experience with quality work.  There are companies out there that have been in business for three years that are far superior in quality control than their competitors that have been in business for 30 years.  So don’t base your entire decision by years of experience or years in business.
4. Be sure always check your potential contractors out with the BBB.  The BBB can provide you with all complaints filed to the BBB on the specific company that is in question.  If there was any complaints filed the BBB will  show you if they were  resolved or not. 
5. Trust your gut.  Use the information above combined with your gut feeling to make the best possible decision.

Good Luck…