Not All Contractors are Created Equal

Not All Contractors are Created Equal

In the world of Contracting, there are many stigmas associated with the building trade due to a rather notorious history of bad behaviors and nightmare scenarios that people have encountered from a variety of contractors. More often than not however, people are more inclined to talk about a bad experience than a good experience with friends and family, which has led many people to approach remodeling projects with a great sense of wariness. How do you know if you’re entering into an agreement with an upstanding business or a shady fly by night scammer looking to make you their next mark?

Vetting a contactor is incredibly important before signing on for a high-ticket project. Thankfully, in this day and age we have an assortment of online review sites like Yelp, Angie’s List and Thumbtack that give customers a platform to air their grievances to the general public when they’ve encountered a company that has engaged in bad business practices. It is always important to do your research and look through these sites to determine whether the company you’re hiring is going to perform the way they ought to. Now, be aware that there are always going to be a couple negative reviews here and there as that is just the nature of giving everyone a platform to speak their minds, and certainly the old adage is true that “you just can’t please everyone.” But getting a sense of the majority consensus of a company’s reviews can help you feel more confident in choosing the right contractor for your project.

It is also wise to get a couple of estimates from different highly rated companies. Price is certainly a factor, but it is only one of many factors when planning a home remodel. There are many contractors that can offer bargain basement prices, but that is the only benefit of working for them. Another adage also rings true in this scenario: “you get what you pay for.” When contracting for a remodel, you don’t want to hire someone to complete that project again in the near future; and you certainly want to be left fully satisfied at that end of the project. Making sure you hire the right company that is experienced in the scope of the project, reputable in their industry and going to satisfy your expectations to the fullest is far more valuable in the long run than saving a little bit of money in the short term. Many reputable contractors in this day and age also are able to offer financing options to help customers stretch their budgets a bit further to ensure they can enter into a project for a quality build with more peace of mind and financial flexibility.

Lastly, you want to ensure that whoever you are going to hire is fully licensed by the State of California through the California State License Board. Hiring unlicensed contractors limits your rights in the event of a dispute. Make sure they have a General Liability Insurance policy as well as a Workers Compensation Insurance policy in the event of an unforeseen event that leads to property damage or onsite work-related injuries when they are on your property. All of these requirements work to protect you and your home against personal damages and liability.