Professional tips for hiring the right contractor

Hiring a contractor can be overwhelming: you might know you need the expert help, but choosing the wrong person could have disastrous results. When something needs maintenance, repair, or renovation in your home, you want someone who is at the top of their game – a skilled professional who gets the job done right the first time. These five tips will help you choose the right person for the job. 1. Turn to Local Resources Ask friends and family, as well as trusted local resources like other home care professionals you've had good outcomes with. You may also want to consider inquiries with local home builders organizations and supply stores. 2. Ask Lots of Questions What is your specialization? What are your guarantees and warranties? How do you handle the cleanup? What is your work schedule? How do you handle any damages that may occur? Do you provide a contract? What are the payment terms? It's good to know what answers you will and won't accept beforehand. The questions you ask should be designed to help narrow the search and create a short list of contractors you’re interested in working with. 3. Choose on More Than Price When deciding who to hire, the best price does not mean the best result. Make your decision on a variety of predetermined factors that are drawn out through the identical questions you ask each contractor. Also, get references from the contractors and contact every reference on your short list. What was the contractor like to work with? Were they professional? Did they adhere to the pre-determined contract? What didn’t go as expected? Did anything go wrong in the process? If yes, how did the contractor handle it? Was there anything about the project that was unexpected or surprising? Did you have a signed contract? Was it adhered to? Finally, ask if they can provide you with pictures of their project so you can see the quality of work. 4. Know About Insurance You and the contractor both need to have appropriate insurance. If anyone gets injured on the job, or any property gets damaged (yours or a neighbors), you need to know that these things are covered. Verifying what insurance coverage the contractor has and having a conversation with your insurance broker before signing the contract will help set your mind at ease. 5. Get It in Writing If there’s no contract, there should be no deal. The final agreement between you and a contractor must be documented, signed, and dated in a formal contract. Also, avoid cash payments, because cash payments can leave you with no legal recourse if something goes wrong – especially if you don’t have a contract. Getting the right contractor may seem like a lot of work, but doing your research and making sure all is covered and documented will help lead you to the best result.  Your Friendly Neighborhood Flooring Dealer,            Matt Capell            President of Capell Flooring and Interiors   P.S.  We have our Capell Flooring Youtube Channel up and running - check it out leave some comments, subscribe and you have suggestions for a video let me know and I will get it done!