Here are some things to
consider when hiring a contractor.
 | Look for longevity.
If your contractor has been in business for a long time, he will more
than likely be around to honor warranty work. |
| If someone solicits
you, don't hire them until you check them out and make sure they are
not a scam or temporary business. |
| Hire only insured
contractors. They will have the ability to cover any damage or
accidents that occur during construction. They should have both
business liability and workers' comp insurance. If the
contractor is a sole proprietor, they may waive workers' comp
insurance. |
| Don't let your
payments get ahead of the completed work. If you do, there is no
incentive for the contractor to return and finish. Only pay for
what is actually done or for materials that are on your property.
|
| The industry is very
competitive. Material costs are similar for all contractors.
If a bid is extremely low compared to other bids, it should be a
red flag. The contractor may have missed something in his bid or
hires inexperienced craftsmen and pays them very little.
Sometimes, contractors give a low bid just to get the work and then
will require more money later. Hiring the cheapest contractor
doesn't always save you money and definitely doesn't buy quality. |
| Making changes in the
middle of construction is expensive. If the contractor performs
the work according to his original bid and you change your mind, you
now have to pay the contractor to take down what they've already done
and redo the work the new way. Make sure you know what you want
before beginning construction so you only pay for things once. |
| Quality is just as
important as price when choosing a contractor. The saying, "You
get what you pay for" is very true in the construction industry.
Ask if you can see examples of their work. |
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