How to Make Wise Hiring Decisions For Your Home Improvements & Repairs

Unless you’re a contractor and you do your own repairs and home improvements; you may not have a clue how to go about finding your own contractor. There are a few rules you need to follow before you decide on the professionals who know and have the ability to do the work you require.

Honesty and reliability are of course required, but how will you even know that they are being truthful with you. There are many scammers out there and they seem to congregate in the home improvement business and that is the one business that gets the most complaints.

So cautious is the word, don’t be in a hurry to hire the first guy who knocks on your door. In other words, don’t hire him at all.

When you make an appointment with a contractor, does he arrive on time? If not did he call to let you know he would be late? If not don’t even put him on your list. He failed before he walked in your door.

Next does he take the time to find out what you want? Does he know more than you? Obviously he should, but unless you tell him what you expect, how will he know what to charge? The word here is communication. If you have trouble communicating, cross him off your list, and go to the next.

Is the price he quotes lower than anyone else? Why? Will he do a poor job or use substandard supplies? Does he really care about your job? Or is he only interested in your money? Tell him goodbye.

Does the contractor have a place of business or does he work out of his garage? A contractor who has an address on his contract will be there awhile. Does he encourage you to pay him in full? Never do that. There are standards set by Workers Comp. and his contract should state what the law says. For instance the down payment should be 10% or $1000 whichever is lower and not a penny more.

If the job is large, then normally payments are scheduled when a certain part of the job is completed. For instance, when material is delivered. Get receipts for every payment, especially if the contractor uses sub-contractors.

Make sure everything the contractor promises is written in the contract and you should receive a copy. The contract should state the date the job starts and an approximate completion date. The contractor’s license number needs to be on the contract and on every advertisement he runs.
Contact several contractors and ask for bids, and references and check them out. Compare apples with apples and understand what is written down.

Home Improvement Guide specializes in Southern California home improvement, Coto De Caza home improvement and Orange County remodeling.