Taxes, root canals and hiring strange contractors. What do they all have in common?
Several things. They are inevitable, they are part of everyone’s life, they are stressful — and they don’t have to be as bad as our imaginations make them out to be.
The Guys are neither dentists nor tax experts, but we do know something about hiring contractors and stacking the odds on our side regarding favorable outcomes.
Now that we are all contemplating home projects for the coming year, it is timely to discuss some considerations when hiring that professional.
Keep in mind as we work through this list that no single item by itself indicates a bad company or portends a bad experience.
Everything starts with a strong and trusted referral. Don’t hire based on a mailer or cold call solicitation or on the old standby, “We are doing work in your neighborhood, so you can get the project completed for less money if you sign today.”
Trusted referrals are based on prior experience. Every company has been subjected to a learning curve as they evolve to become great firms. You want to benefit from years of growth, practice and improvement.
Long-term companies have shopped suppliers and developed protocols to deliver expert and timely services that include components that function as they are intended.
Look for clear written contracts that include time schedules, payment schedules and clear specifications for what will and what won’t be done.
Vague sketches and language should indicate to you a potential issue that you don’t want to deal with.
Deposits are often a part of the transaction when signing a contract for work, but they should be minimal and the contract should clearly specify their intent and disposition if the terms of the agreement are not complied with. For instance, is there a cancelation clause with a time incentive that might include refund of the monies, or is the deposit not refundable after a specified length of time?
If the work requires special order materials such as custom cabinets, you may be asked to pay for them in full and in advance. One protection if you do this is to possibly have them drop shipped directly to you, knowing you will have to safely take delivery and store them until installation.
Written warranty, or better yet, a written and clear first-person guarantee, should be part of your contract and should be discussed and understood. Many warranties are third party documents that may require you to speak to a manufacturer if there is an issue.
A great company is going to handle any and all service issues themselves and your only call when you have a question or problem should be directly to the company you originally did business with.
Use of sub-contractors is often viewed with skepticism, but don’t consider it a negative unless the company you are working with has no history with the sub. One of the reasons you should work with a long-term professional is the likelihood they have developed relationships with a network of other specialists like plumbers, electricians, painters, etc.
This group of experts has worked together for years, and they orchestrate great projects by working in harmony to expedite completion of your dreams.
The metaphor of music is appropriate when you consider the finest symphonies are comprised of solo performers who have honed their expertise and learned to create beautiful sound working with like-minded professionals under the direction of a leader, or, in our case, a general contractor.
Don’t be afraid to ask a builder who they use for design work, supplies, framing, drywall or mechanicals.
If they hire experts that aren’t direct employees, they should be proud to divulge relationships with other tops companies they work with.
Another way to assure you are speaking with a quality concern is to ask the question, “If I couldn’t hire your company to do this work, who would you suggest I contact?”
Great firms will refer other great firms, not fly-by-night concerns or unskilled practitioners that would devalue your project.
Ask about ongoing training and employee retention. Quality firms retain their people and constantly provide training to improve their skillsets.
Keep dreaming of ways to improve the experience of living in your castle and of work that will add value over time. And hire slowly, using only professionals like you can find every day at insideoutsideguys.com.
Listen to the Inside Outside Guys every Saturday and Sunday on AM 760-WJR from 10 a.m.-noon or contact us at insideoutsideguys.com.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: The Inside Outside Guys: Caution signs regarding contractors
Reporting by Ken Calverley and Chuck Breidenstein, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
