Tips to Hiring a Contractor
- Avoid Common Problems and get the best quality for your dollar

Ask your friends and family

-          It’s good to know you can hire a contractor recommended by someone you trust.  Contractors get a major portion of projects from referrals and they prefer them. A referral drastically reduces the chance of a bad experience.  If you can’t find someone you know to give you a recommendation, find a trusted source for a recommendation. Ask the Better business Bureau (BBB) or a contractors association in your area.

Look in the phone book for different companies and Check references thoroughly

-           Ask the contractor you have found for the names and contact information of several recent customers who would be willing to share their experience.  Call them and find out the overall level of professionalism and reliability of the contractor in questions.  If possible, view the completed projects and view projects currently underway. This may sometimes take more effort on your part, but when you make a high dollar investment you want to make sure you have done all of your homework. The more research you perform upfront means fewer regrets later.

Here are some questions to ask a contractor’s previous customers:

-          Was the installation completed to your satisfaction?

-          Was the installation completed on time?

-          Was the installation completed on budget?

-          Were there any unexpected costs? What were they?

-          Did the contractor communicate well before, during and after the installation?

-          Did the contractor and crew show up on time?

-          Did the contractor and crew perform a cleanup after the installation was completed?

-          Would they use the contractor again?

-          Would they recommend the contractor?

-          Ask to view the completed project.

Perform a basic business checkup

-          Ask the contractor how long the company has been in business. Find out what the licensing requirements for your area. Ask the contractor for his license and confirm that is valid and current.  Request copies of the contractor’s liability, worker’s comp and property damage insurance.  Knowing the most possible about your contractor will assure you are going to choose the correct contractor.

Ask any and all questions possible

-          Make a list of questions for the contractor, don’t be shy. Express to your contractor the different ideas and maybe misunderstanding you have about your installation. If the contractor responds with technical information that you don’t understand ask them to explain it. Ask as much as you can, now is the time to test the installers knowledge.

Get several bids

-          Do not assume you can’t understand why bids can differ in price. Allow the contractor to tell you about the materials and labor.  You might go with the higher priced bid once you understand all the installer has to offer. Often, the lowest bid isn’t the best. Compare all the bids. The BBB recommends obtaining at least three different.

Have everything in writing, contracts are what contractors offer.

-          Make sure all the information you have talked about and have come to understand and agree with is in writing. Getting a contract in writing with save from possible grief if something goes wrong with your project.  Some states do not require written contracts; we recommend you don’t proceed without one.  Cross all you T’s and dot all your I’s.  All the information in the contract must be legible.  Name, address, payment schedule (if any), date, permit numbers, verbal promises, warranties, materials, what the contractor is responsible for, option to cancel the contract if you wish. No detail can be overlooked when choosing the right person for the installation.

Trust yourself.

-          You have been doing your homework for a while, everything checks out but your gut still says no. Listen to your instincts. A project so simple can quickly become problematic if you and the contractor can’t communicate or get along.  Remember any home improvement involves close contact with the contractor and their crew.  Hire a contractor your comfortable with.

Time to Enjoy

-          After the installation is over take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the new addition to the family!

Disclaimer: The laws regulating home improvement projects and contractor certification vary from state to state and area to area. This informational documentation is intended to offer general guidelines and is not as legal advice.  If you have comments, suggestions or questions about this guide please email support@acwholesalers.com  for further assistance.