“Catch a Contractor” if you haven’t seen this Spike TV show you have probably heard of it; don’t let this happen to you! Follow these steps to find the right contractor. One well known contractor once said “People shop for cars more carefully then they shop for contractors.” Think about that quote, picking the wrong contractor could not only make your life a living hell but could put you and your family in danger. A well respected architect offered that you never hire a friend and you think twice before hiring a relative. 

First how do you find a good contractor, start with word of mouth individuals close to you may have had similar work done and can point you in the right direction. Now-a-days people do a lot of research online, this may be a good place to start but don’t rely too heavily on these as they can be manipulated, options of this sort include Yelp and Angie’s List. 

You will want to reach out to those you are interested in for a list of references. Do phone interviews, ask specific questions especially how many projects like yours have then done, can they provide financial references as well as job references. Check with your local building inspector and Better Business Bureau to make sure the contractor has a good reputation. 

Once you get a good sense of who you enjoyed talking to on the phone, meet with them in person at the job location. Flush out if they are easy to talk to, are they listening to you or talking over you. Do they seem to understand the direction you are going with the project maybe offering up information you had not even considered. Remember communication will be key if you hire them, you want someone you can work with especially if they will be inside your home. 

Ask for information about recent projects and older projects, be sure to visit the locations (get permission from the owner first) to see the actual work as a lot can be hidden or touched up in photos, and the older projects will show how well the work has held up. Try to visit a job in process to see if they really are as “clean” as they say. Talk to the owner are they happy with the contractor even under the duress of the work. Don’t be afraid to ask if there were any cost over-runs or timing issues. Pay close attention to their body language and what they are saying, try to flush out if they avoiding any questions or if they really felt the contractor did a great job. 

Depending on the extent of the work to be performed full plans may be required, a conscientious contractor will request a these plans before bidding. Provide all the contractors you wish to get bids from the same plans so you are comparing apples to apples. Make sure all the bids are presented the same, ask for a breakdown of materials and labor so you can easily see any glaring differences. 

Part of the bidding process should be a payment plan based on the work, never pay the full amount up front. Most payment schedules are 10% up front, then 3-25% payments at set job completion points and the final 10% due when all are in agreement the work has been fully completed. Any potential cost-over runs should be discussed prior to the purchase ie the hardware you chose for your kitchen cabinets is no longer available a slightly more expensive one is, this should be documented and the additional cost noted in the next payment. 

Price should never be your guide when choosing a contractor, it is suggested you toss out immediately any extremely low bid or overly high bid. Then look at who you felt most comfortable with, and whose work you liked the best, this may not be the least expensive but may make the difference between a pleasant experience and a harrowing one. 

Finally, get it all down in writing. Sign an official contract, make sure you have copies of all the documentation required to do your job from liens to permits to copies of the contractors insurance. Good luck, though you shouldn’t need it with the right contractor on the job.