How to Hire a Contractor

In Gaston Indiana a handyman was arrested for offering to clean a senior citizens gutters and then asking for $200 to repair the nonexistent damage that he had found.  The handyman gave investigators a false name and a phony Social Security number.  He also had no type of license needed to do the work.

In Ohio a Grand jury just indicted a man on 9 counts of defrauding elderly and disabled victims.  He would go down the street ringing doorbells telling homeowners that there was something wrong with their homes.  Usually it was something like a bad roofing shingle or a nail in the roof.  He would then take their money and begin to do the work and then never finished it.

Unfortunately, we are beginning to hear this same story again and again.  We are hearing about how unsuspecting homeowners have gotten ripped off by unscrupulous contractors.  Yet, as much as we may want to do what needs to be done around our homes ourselves, assuming that we have the ability, sometimes we are just going to have to hire someone to do it for us.

So how do we know who to trust?

Well, the first thing to understand is that you should not live in fear of hiring someone to do a job for you because you think all contractors are bad.  They are not, in fact most contractors are highly skilled craftsmen looking to do what you need done all while making an honest buck.

That being said, once you do invite someone into your home to look at a job there are many questions that you should ask.  Here is a look at a few.

1. How long have you been in business? This question will give insight into the type of business that you are working with, assuming that you get an honest answer.  If the contractor has not been in business that long, you are talking to a new company with probably not that much experience.  The tradesmen may be experienced, but not the company itself.

I would not rule out hiring a company just because they are new.  Sometimes you will get a better job at a better price because they are out to build a business and therefore try extra hard to please you.  However, you can have problems with the contract, scheduling or the wrong materials being used just to name a few.

2. What experience do you have with doing this particular kind of job? Not every company is good at everything.  Often if a company is good at roofing you will not want them installing your new kitchen or your carpeting.  They may be very honest and good at installing your roof and even your siding, but don’t have the expertise needed to do other projects.

This question is especially important in a down economy.  In a down economy there tends to be less work.  Home improvement companies may find that the work available to them is not in their area of expertise. But they take it on anyway.

Ask to see pictures and don’t be afraid to ask for references.  Any contractor who is proud of their work and has nothing to hide will gladly show you past work that they have done.

3. Do you guarantee your work? Once the contractor finishes your job make certain that if something goes wrong they will come back and fix or replace whatever it is for a reasonable period of time.  This is the question that separates the great companies from the good companies.  A great company will be so proud of the work that they do that if something isn’t quite right, that they will be back quickly to make it right.  Also, make sure to get the guarantee in writing.

4. Will you supply me with the price in writing up front? This one should be no problem for any honest contactor.  This question also ties into question number two.  Any experienced contractor should be able to determine exactly what a job should cost.  They should know such things as their labor costs, the cost of supplies and any other costs involved in getting the work done.

If for some reason they are unable to come up with a price up front because of something that they cannot determine, have them put that in writing as well.

Don’t just let anyone work in your home! Just because someone says something does not mean that it is true.  Make sure to do your homework by asking questions, getting the answers in writing, comparing  contractors and taking the time to make an informed intelligent decision.