Homeowner Homework: The Contractor Interview: General Contractor
Hiring a contractor is a big deal. It’s not just the thousands you are planning on spending on your home, it is also that this person will have access to your house for the entire duration. The selection process is a three stage process: online, interview, and references. If you take the time to do each of these three steps correctly, you will likely have a much better experience with your project.
Step 1: Online Research
Shopping for anything these days tends to start online. Online reviews are fine, but be careful, they can be an unregulated deception, too.
- Do they have a generally good rating (over 4 out of 5)?
- Are the majority of their ratings high (5 out of 5)?
- Are the negative complaints strangely vicious? (Look for things like: This is the worst person I have ever met. Real customers rarely speak that way and if they do, they tend to be people who are angry often.)
- Do the reviews talk about the things that matter to you? (Punctuality, budget, politeness, etc.)
- Check the state’s court records website. Are there a number of lawsuits? (If a company is in business for 20 years, you will likely find someone that will take them to court. If they have any, you should ask about them.) You should also look at the owner or contractor that will be in your home for criminal activity or issues.
Step 2: The Interview
Doing a personal interview can seem strange, but remember, you are allowing this person access to your home and your family. Even if the work is outside, they will get an intimate look at your life.
- How long have you been a contractor?
- Did you go to school for this?
- Are you licensed? (They should give you a copy of their license.)
- Are you insured? (They should give you their insurance information.)
- How many project like this have you done recently?
- Can you please give me three references?
- Will I need a permit for this project?
- Will you be getting the permit or do I need to get it?
- Will you be using subcontractors? How long have you worked with them? Are they insured and licensed as well?
- Do you offer a written warranty of your work?
Step 3: References
You might be uncomfortable about calling strangers at first, but it is nice to hear what other people think of this person. If they don’t want to say much, it might mean that they don’t have a lot to say that’s good.
- Was this the first time you used this person for a project?
- When did the contractor complete the project?
- Did they get it done on time?
- Did they say within budget?
- Were you given a written warranty?
- Have you need to call them back for anything?
- Were there any incidents of importance that occurred?
Are you ready to get started on your project?
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