7 Tips to Find a Good Contractor for Your Home Improvement Project

As any homeowner knows, home improvement projects can be expensive. You want to make sure you find a good contractor who will complete the job as expected, stand behind their work and not overcharge you. Here are seven ways (in order of importance) to find a good contractor for your home improvement project.

Finding a good contractor may not be easy but it’s worth it. This article provides a guide on how to find a great contractor to assist with your home impormement or repair.

Ask Your Friends

Get recommendations from friends and family. Ask around to see if anyone you know has recently had that type of work done on their home. If they did, ask who they used and if they were happy with the work, what they wish they new before starting and if they had any setbacks that you could avoid. Remember, there is no guarantee that their good experience will automatically equate to your jobs success but it is a great place to start.

Make sure the contractor holds the required licenses

Insist on only using properly licensed handyman and contractors. Yes, in Maryland even Handypersons are required to be licensed before beginning the smallest job. Licensing provides reassurances that the contractor has met the most basic skills, compliance requirements and the state approves them to provide services. Licensed tradespeople also agree to perform work in a manner set forth by the supervising government agency. The state also holds the power to fine and revoke the license of a contractor who violates industry standards. Licensing is your first line of defence against an unethical contractor.

Verify Insurances

To verify that a contractor has liability insurance, ask to see a certificate of insurance. This document will list the insurer, the policy limits, and the effective dates of coverage .Liability insurance will protect you in the event that someone is injured on the job or if your serviceperson damages someone else's property. It is required by law in Maryland and it's essential to have in order to protect yourself and your home. Any contractor that works in your home without liablity puts you at risk of being sued for potential damages. Be sure to call the insuring company to make sure that the policy is current and that the limits are high enough to cover any potential damages.

Estimates should be written (and you shouldn't have to ask)

When contracting a professional for a service, it is important to get a written estimate on professional stationary beforehand. This estimate should include timelines, materials and a complete statement of the work to be completed along withlong with address, license numbers and terms and conditions. This way, there are no surprises during job performance or when the bill comes.

Ask about experience and certifications

Licensing ensures that a trades person has sufficient knowledge in safety, and building codes but nothing trumps experience. Ask if your contrator has prior experience or training doing the type of work you require. A plumber isn't the best tradesperson to change your light fixtures.

Additionally aquiring additional certifications shows that your contractors has taken the extra step of being specifically trained to perfrom installations and repairs per manufacturers specifications and is keeping up with industry changes.

Written Warranty Only

Ask about warranties and get them in writting. A good contractor should stand behind their work and offer some type of warranty. This will give you peace of mind in knowing that if something does go wrong, the contractor will fix it.

Search for Review & Complaints

Check for possitive reviews and complaints. While you probably wont know the reviewers, this will give you a general idea how the company responds to customer issues. Remember that customers are 8 times more likely to leave a complaint than praise so carefully assess how the negative review may apply on your project. It is rare that customers leave a possitive review for average service so, possitive reviews often reflects when a company goes above and beyond what is expected.

Speak with the contractors previous Customers

Ask the contractor for references and before and after pictures if that makes sense. A good contractor should have no problem providing you with references from previous clients or pictures from a job well done. Be aware that most contractors will only give you references to those customers who they know will give them a stellar review so once you get a reference on the phone (and after thanking them for their time) inquire about the contractors timelyness and ability to complete the job. You shouldn't expect to get negative feedback from these references, but their input can provide you some insight into their workflow.