When you would like to remodel your home, you would like to work with a contractor who is fair and honest and gets the work done within a reasonable amount of time. How can you find someone like this? There are many choices that you have when you want to research contractors. In this post, we will discuss how you can find the right contractor for you.
Friends and Family
A great resource for contractors is family and friends who have used contractors in the past. You can discuss with them the work they had done, how they felt about the contractor, what type of work the contractor did, and if they would hire them again for another job. Also, if friends and family know someone who had work done, you can talk to them as well.
Online Reviews
There are many places on the Internet where reviews of contractors can be found. Sites like Yelp, Google Reviews, Angie’s List, etc. offer the opportunity to read about specific contractors and the experiences that the public, in general, has had about them. You can look up contractors by location, review rating, specialty, etc. to give you a starting point for finding a contractor to discuss your planned project with.
References
When you find a contractor that you would like to work with, ask them if they have references that you can contact that they have previously done work for. They can have reviews on their website as well that you can look through, but actually talking to previous clients gives you a better opportunity to evaluate their work.
Credentials
Another way to research contractors is to look at the credentials they hold. You can check their certifications and training, the number of years they’ve been in business, associations they belong to, etc. They could display their licensure either in their office, or they can have a section on their website for you to review. When looking at these items you want to make sure they are current.
Consultation
Following your gut instinct is also a good way of choosing a contractor. You can set up a meeting to discuss your proposed plan and listen to what the contractor has to say. You can have a list of questions to ask to get a feel for their work ethic, problem solving abilities, and level of expertise. Then you can decide if you would like to proceed further with the contractor.
