What to Look for When Hiring a Contractor in 5 Steps
Finding the right contractor can be a daunting task. You want to find one that will make sure you get what you want at a fair price but you also want to find someone who you trust and want to work with.
Whether you’re looking to install a new toilet all the way to a complete kitchen renovation, it’s important to find the right contractor for you. It’s nice that there are many contractors to choose from and if you follow these five steps on what to look for when hiring one, you’ll find the perfect fit for your project.
Five-Steps Before Hiring a Contractor
Follow these five steps when hiring a contractor and you’ll feel confident with who you hire and enjoy a smooth project process.
- Fully-Licensed
If the potential contractor isn’t transparent about their licensing or quick to show you their licenses when asked, be wary of working with them. All contractors need to be fully-licensed according to the rules of their state. Head to your state’s website to look them up. - Background Check
Take a few minutes to perform some research on the contractor. Research their website to see how long they’ve been in business and look for recent projects. Visit the Better Business Bureau and look at their BBB Profile. Search them online and look for their online reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp. Finally, reach out and ask for a list of references from recent work completed. - Get Multiple Bids
It’s good to get multiple bids from different contractors you’re interested in working with. If you get three bids and one seems obscenely low that should be a red flag. Likewise, if one bid comes in extremely high, it’s good to think about it. If you only ask for one bid, you really don’t know how it compares to others. It’s always better to get at least two-four bids on a project to compare different pricing, timelines, and communication. - Communication
Communication is truly key during the project. While you’re vetting different contractors, take note of their communication. Do they respond to you in a timely matter? Do they take the time to answer all your questions? This time during the quote process is very telling of how the contractor will communicate during the project. - Trust Your Gut
Great, let’s say you have two contractors you like, they passed the background checks, and their quotes look good. How do you make the final decision? Trust your gut and choose the one that seems right for you. Even if you’re in a position where the contractor your gut is telling you to choose costs a little bit more, it’s worth it. Many homeowners with a bad contractor experience say they wished they had trusted their gut instead of pinching a penny.
Pay it Forward
After your project is complete, and if you had a great experience, offer to be a reference for your contractor and leave them good reviews. This not only helps a great business, but it also helps other homeowners like you find the right contractor for their project.
One Hour Rooter is your trusted plumber in the metro Minneapolis area. Call us at 612-354-8984 if you need help with any plumbing projects.
