|
Selecting A Home Improvement Contractor
Now that you have decided to do a remodeling or home
improvement project, it is time to select a home improvement
contractor who will work with you to ensure a quality job.
Unfortunately, there are many contractors who promote their
services in ways that disguise their lack of expertise or do
work in a way that is shoddy or not of acceptable quality.
The good news, though, is that there are many reputable,
dependable contractors who can do a quality job with your
remodeling project. Your job is to go through a thorough
process of evaluating each home improvement contractor under
consideration so you can select the one who best meets your
needs.
Start your evaluation by checking with your state licensing
agency and/or labor and industries agency. There you will
find out if a home improvement contractor has a valid
license, a current and sufficient bond and if there have
been any complaints or disputes brought to the attention of
regulators.
Home Improvement Contractor
Next, move on the Better Business Bureau and check on each
home improvement contractor on your short list. There you
will be able to see if there have been any complaints filed,
and if so, how they were resolved. One or two complaints
that have been promptly and thoroughly resolved are not
necessarily too worrisome; however, a pattern of complaints
or a large quantity of complaints should be a red flag to
you.
Ask for and thoroughly check references from each home
improvement contractor you consult. Look at their past work,
watching for attention to detail and durability. Talk with
their former clients in depth, looking for any clues or
information that will give you an idea of what to expect if
you were to hire that particular contractor.
Finally, if you have friends, family or neighbors who have
completed a remodeling project, ask them about the home
improvement contractor who did their project. If they were
satisfied with the work and are willing to refer you to that
person, then by all means go through the evaluation process
for that contractor. |
