So You Trying to Hire a Home Contractor, Follow These Tips

The more people we talk to the more we learn that people loathe hiring contractors. On several layers, contractors are known to be unreliable, less than straightforward, and potentially nightmare creators — you know, the stories we tell people and then they respond, “no, he didn’t do that, did he?” And then you respond, “yes, he did!”

There must be something we can do to hire good contractors and weed out the rest, right? Well, yes, there is something you can do. 

Below are three categories to think through. If you can get good answers from these three categories, you’ve likely found a good contractor: License, Experience, Scope. 

License

A license for a contractor is an important indicator that you’re dealing with a professional. A license proves that the contractor is willing to abide by the rules. You want a contractor who is a rule follower because shortcuts equal shoddy work. 

A license also indicates that your contractor has determination. A license is not something easily obtained, it’s something worked for. It also means the state and the different licensing authorities have evaluated this individual and concluded they know their stuff. Hire people like this. 

Experience

Experience is also an important topic to investigate. If the contractor has a track record of successes, it’s likely whatever he’s previously done for others he’s likely to do for you. If he’s done good work at other people’s homes and they’re happy, you’re likely to share the same experience. 

A way to check a contractor's experience is to simply ask them the question, “what’s your background?”

Hear what they say, ask for photos of previous work and even a few references to call. If they have numbers to give you, you’ve found another indicator that they may be worth their salt. 

Scope

Finally scope. When we say scope we’re really asking the question about clarity of what it is you are actually agreeing to. 

When you compare quotes from one contractor to the next, be sure you are understanding what it is each contractor is saying they’re going to do. If you miss this in communication, you’re laying the foundation for misery. Don’t do this. 

The scope communicated, in writing, is your contract. The more clarity you gain, the fewer heartaches you will experience. And you can take that to the bank.