Choosing a good contractor for repair work in your home can be the most important decision to make as a homeowner. While a good number of contractors are good and reputable, there are a few others who are not. Because of this, you will have to conduct thorough research about potential candidates before making a choice. When looking for good contractors South Jersey people will find the following guidelines very useful.
First you need to ask your potential contractor his area of specialty. This is very important because there are different types of contractors. Stay away from any contractor who claims to know it all. He may be a jack of all trades but a master of none. Ask your potential contractor for a list of his recently completed projects. This will help you determine how familiar he is with your kind of project.
You should imagine what will happen should the contractor take your deposit and disappear. In such a situation, the most realistic thing to do would be to report him to the relevant authority. However, it will be very difficult to trace him if he was just one of the fly by night contractors. So to be on the safe side, you should only deal with licensed companies.
You also need to confirm that the contractor is insured and bonded before contracting him. The only way to verify this is to see his certificate of insurance which should include name of insurer, policy number and compensation limits. Do not conduct any business with uninsured contractor. This is because should anything happen to him in the course of his work, you will be held liable.
Service fee is another definite consideration. Being costly does not make one to be a better contractor. Because of this, you should never hire expensive contractor thinking that you will get the best. Always compare charges from a number of them and settle on one whose charges make sense.
You also need to set a payment schedule. A payment schedule can tell you a lot about a contractors financial status and work ethics. If he asks you for half the bid, this may mean that he is having financial problems. For large projects, you should only pay 10 % at contract signing and spread the rest over the duration of the project.
A good contractor should also be able to furnish you with names, addresses and contacts of at least three customers with similar projects. Ask each one of them how long ago the work was completed and whether they would recommend the person for similar project. You should also visit these sites to see whether you like the finishing.
By following these guidelines when looking for contractors South Jersey people will be assured of good construction services. When choosing a contractor, you should remember that it is your investment at stake. As such, you will need the very best.
First you need to ask your potential contractor his area of specialty. This is very important because there are different types of contractors. Stay away from any contractor who claims to know it all. He may be a jack of all trades but a master of none. Ask your potential contractor for a list of his recently completed projects. This will help you determine how familiar he is with your kind of project.
You should imagine what will happen should the contractor take your deposit and disappear. In such a situation, the most realistic thing to do would be to report him to the relevant authority. However, it will be very difficult to trace him if he was just one of the fly by night contractors. So to be on the safe side, you should only deal with licensed companies.
You also need to confirm that the contractor is insured and bonded before contracting him. The only way to verify this is to see his certificate of insurance which should include name of insurer, policy number and compensation limits. Do not conduct any business with uninsured contractor. This is because should anything happen to him in the course of his work, you will be held liable.
Service fee is another definite consideration. Being costly does not make one to be a better contractor. Because of this, you should never hire expensive contractor thinking that you will get the best. Always compare charges from a number of them and settle on one whose charges make sense.
You also need to set a payment schedule. A payment schedule can tell you a lot about a contractors financial status and work ethics. If he asks you for half the bid, this may mean that he is having financial problems. For large projects, you should only pay 10 % at contract signing and spread the rest over the duration of the project.
A good contractor should also be able to furnish you with names, addresses and contacts of at least three customers with similar projects. Ask each one of them how long ago the work was completed and whether they would recommend the person for similar project. You should also visit these sites to see whether you like the finishing.
By following these guidelines when looking for contractors South Jersey people will be assured of good construction services. When choosing a contractor, you should remember that it is your investment at stake. As such, you will need the very best.
About the Author:
Read more about Tips For Choosing Contractors South Jersey Residents Should Always Consider.
No comments:
Post a Comment