Some essential tips for taking the stress out of hiring a contractor
For so many homeowners, the idea of a major home renovation project is a major cause for stress, and not even because of the work itself, but the process of finding a contractor who is reliable, competent and will get the job done instead of leaving you in the dust with a half-finished project. Here at American Hurricane Solutions, we can be relied upon to provide the highest quality products and services to the South Florida area when it comes to window and door protection. But when you’re hoping to start a different kind of home renovation, here are our top tips and advice for choosing a reputable contractor who can take the stress out of your next home improvement project:
- Know what you want. Start with a clear plan before you go talking to contractors. The more specific you are in terms of what you want to be done and the materials required to do it, the more accurate an estimate you’ll get when you do start meeting with contractors.
- Get recommendations. Whether it’s family or friends that recommend you someone who did a great job on their home, or a review service like Angie’s List, always try to get recommendations and referrals from people who can testify to the contractor’s quality of work.
- Research. Recommendations alone aren’t enough, though. Be sure to do thorough research on a variety of contractors. Check their licenses, check to see if they have any complaints against them or a litigation history. These kinds of things can be found on disciplinary boards, in local court records and on the Better Business Bureau website.
- Ask the right questions. Do they take on projects of your size and type? Can they give you a list of previous clients? How long have they worked with their subcontractors? How many other projects would they have going at the same time? These are key questions that reveal their reliability, availability and how much attention they can dedicate to your project.
- Choose the right contractor for the job. A contractor who did an amazing job renovating someone’s kitchen might not be the one you want building a new addition to your home. Make sure they have a history of doing projects like yours, otherwise you might become their guinea pig and who knows how the project will turn out?
- Look at work samples. Samples can be even more important than references because they let you see the quality of the contractor’s work and gives you a much better idea of how your project will most likely turn out if you hire them.
- Set a Payment Plan. Generally, you should almost never pay more than ten percent of the job cost up front. Occasionally, it might be more if expensive materials are required immediately, but if a contractor asks for half the price upfront, that’s a major red flag that they might not be trustworthy. Have a clear payment plan in place for you stick to.
Final Word
There’s always a lot to think about when choosing a contractor, but these are some of the major points to keep in mind. Luckily, when you work with American Hurricane Solutions, you know you’re always getting a top-quality installation of a fantastic product.
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