Articles

How to Choose a Contractor (According to Home Service Contractors)

date posted

08/19/24

read time

6 Mins

Choosing a Contractor, How to Choose a Contractor

When it comes to choosing a contractor, especially for something like roofing, plumbing, HVAC, or electrical work, you want to make sure you’re getting someone who will do the job right.

But how do you know who to trust? Ryan Redding recently asked this, and here are some of the most common points people focused on: 

1. Check Their Credentials: Licensing, Bonding, and Insurance Are Non-Negotiable

Before anything else, make sure your contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured. This isn’t just a formality; it’s your first line of defense against shoddy workmanship and liability.

Rachel Cross, of Roto-Rooter shares a simple but powerful piece of advice: “Confirm they are licensed, bonded, & insured.” Without these, you could end up in a bind if something goes wrong. Licensing ensures they’ve met state or local requirements, bonding protects you if they don’t complete the job, and insurance covers damages or injuries that occur on your property.

For a deep dive into how to verify this, check out your local government’s licensing board online or ask the contractor directly for proof. If they hesitate, consider it a red flag.

2. Get Multiple Quotes, But Don’t Just Choose the Cheapest

It’s tempting to go with the lowest bid, but contractors agree: trust is more important than price. Jeremy Bohall of Mike’s Plumbing of Southwest Florida advises, “Get three quotes. Choose the person you trust over the guy with the best price.”

When comparing quotes, pay attention to what’s included. A lower price might mean corners are being cut. Ask detailed questions about materials, labor, and timelines to get a true comparison.

Pro Tip: Avoid large corporate companies that might treat you like a number, and steer clear of unlicensed handymen who may lack the necessary skills for your project. Mid-sized, locally-owned companies often strike the right balance of professionalism and personal service.

3. Read the Reviews – Especially the Bad Ones

Online reviews are a goldmine of information, but you have to know how to read them. Dan Wolfrey  of Dan’s Plumbing, suggests focusing on those that are less than perfect: “I look for the ones that have like 3 or 4 not so great reviews. That shows me that hey, they’re human, not paying for reviews.”

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Pay attention to how the company responds to negative feedback. Are they defensive, or do they take responsibility and offer solutions? A few negative reviews aren’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but how they’re handled can tell you a lot about the company’s integrity.

For more thorough research, cross-check reviews on multiple platforms, such as Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). As Dana Enochs points out, the BBB can be particularly useful for getting a sense of a company’s reputation over time.

4. Interview the Contractor: Ask the Right Questions

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s time to interview the contractors. Tiffany Mitchell suggests a few key questions:

  • How much experience do you have with this specific issue?
  • What does your support look like if something goes wrong?
  • Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
  • Do you provide tech profiles, so I know who’s coming to my house?

Don’t be afraid to ask for details about their process. A good contractor should be able to explain their approach in a way that’s easy to understand. If they’re evasive or use too much jargon, that’s a red flag.

Also, as Peter Green emphasizes, ask about the responsiveness and process. If a company is slow to get back to you with pricing or scheduling, they might be just as slow when it comes to completing the job.

5. Look Beyond the Stars: Why 5-Star Ratings Aren’t Everything

It’s easy to be dazzled by a company with a perfect 5-star rating, but Josh Moryl of JM Mechanical warns against it: “I’d tell them to search on Google. Make sure they have a high ranking with several hundred Google reviews. Make sure they are still a ‘smaller company’ not corporate owned.”

A small handful of bad reviews can actually be a good sign. They show the company isn’t manipulating their ratings and give you a more realistic view of what to expect.

If you see a pattern of the same complaint, that’s worth noting. But if the negative reviews are isolated incidents, it could just be a case of a difficult customer.

6. Check Their Community Involvement

A contractor who is active in the community is often more trustworthy. Michael Butts of Semper Dry Water Removal points out, “Look for a company who is active in the community with other activities other than their trade.”

A company that gives back to the community is likely to care more about their reputation and the quality of their work. Community involvement can be a sign that the contractor isn’t just in it for the money, but genuinely cares about the area they serve.

7. Beware of Overbooking and Understaffing

One final tip comes from Peter Green of Go Green Plumbing, Heating & Electrical, who advises watching out for companies that are either overbooked or too available. If a contractor can start immediately, it could be a sign they don’t have enough work (which might be due to poor reputation). Conversely, if they’re booked months out, they may not have the capacity to give your project the attention it needs.

Look for a company that balances a healthy workload with the ability to fit you in within a reasonable time frame.

Wrapping It Up

Choosing a contractor is a big decision, but with these tips, you can feel confident you’re making the right choice. To sum it up:

  • Check credentials: Licensing, bonding, and insurance are crucial.
  • Get multiple quotes: Trustworthiness is more important than the lowest price.
  • Read reviews: Focus on how companies respond to criticism.
  • Ask the right questions: Experience and process transparency are key.
  • Be wary of perfect ratings: They might not tell the whole story.
  • Look for community involvement: It can indicate a company’s integrity.
  • Avoid extremes: Companies that are too busy or too free might signal trouble.

And remember, you’re not just hiring someone to complete a task; you’re entrusting them with your home. Take the time to do your research, ask around, and make a choice that you can feel good about.

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