Hiring a contractor that you have never met can be a pretty scary experience. You won’t allow just anyone to start tearing apart your home for renovations. Billy Gafford manages Handyman Connection, a company dedicated to bringing Birmingham-area homeowners the best in handyman and home repair services. It is his job to only send the best and brightest contractors to the job. In this article, Gafford explains a few tips that he has learned through years of experience.
Whenever we talk shop, one of my good contractor buddies, Tom, constantly says to me, “Billy, there are only two kinds of contractors in this world — good and bad.” This simple saying of Tom’s is rife with meaning, but I generally just smile and nod affirmatively.
The other day though, I found myself in a situation that forced me to think a bit harder on Tom’s words. A local woman had hired a contractor for some remodeling work. She had not received any sort of referral for this contractor, but had met him while shopping at the Home Depot. After a little light conversation, she decided to hire the contractor to work on her home. Not surprisingly (to me anyway) the new construction — a deck — was not built to code. When the local inspector came by, he affirmed as much. Instead of amending the work (for which he had already been paid), the contractor argued with her that the inspector was being too strict and that the job was done correctly. He refused to fix the work, despite her pleas and arguments. They argued back and forth like this for several weeks. Ultimately the contractor simply refused to call the woman back and the job remained unfinished.
What Tom says is true: Some contractors are just no good. Unfortunately, horror stories like this one are all too common in the contracting and home repair business. All kinds of disreputable people do this work and scam and rip-off artists abound. As such, I’ve decided to outline a few tips to keep you safe when hiring an unknown contractor.
- Use reliable licensed and insured contractors. Don’t just take a contractor’s word for it. Ask to see the physical documentation that proves your contractor is licensed and insured.
- Contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) before hiring a contractor. The BBB is an incredible asset to consumers in this country. They’ll have the scoop on just who these people are and whether or not past customers have found fault with them. It just takes a minute to check and can save you a tremendous headache in the long run.
- Ask for references and then check them. Any good contractor has a large roster of jobs they’ve completed and are proud of. Good references are the cornerstone of any reputable contractors business. A contractor that claims not to give out former clients’ phone numbers is usually hiding something fishy.
- Always create and have signed a written contract for the job, regardless of size. I can’t stress the importance of this enough. A written contract can make all difference in settling a dispute and making the sure the work is done per agreement. Your contract should detail exactly what tasks are included for what prices, as well as any information regarding a payment plan. Never leave blank space on a written contract. And if you’re hiring a contractor for a large, complex or costly job, it is always a good idea to have your contract reviewed by a qualified attorney.
- Get guarantees in writing. Much like a contract, a guarantee should also be written and signed. Too often contractors will ensure that work will last a certain number of years, and are not around to make repairs when it does not. A written guarantee can make all the difference.
- Don’t pay anything until work is completed. This may seem basic, but I can’t tell you how many people break this simple rule and get burned. Pay only when the job is done.
- Always pay with a check. Try to avoid paying cash on the spot. While it is normal to pay a percentage of cost down for materials, you should only pay this once materials have been delivered.
Besides the above tips, it is always a good idea to get more than one estimate for any job. You would be amazed at the variance in price that two contractors will quote for same exact job. Besides being a good way to gauge what the work should actually cost, getting several estimates gives you leverage with your preferred contractor. Don’t worry about scaring off a contractor you like by mentioning that someone else quoted you a better price. Contractors are accustomed to this; it’s just part of the business.
Remember, what Tom says is true: There are bad contractors. But if you follow the above tips, you’ll remain safe when hiring someone from the book. Happy hunting and good luck on your new project.
