Hiring a Contractor: What Are Your Must-Haves?

Whether you're having your bathroom remodeled, putting in a nursery, or want to break ground on that swimming pool you've always dreamed of having, you will probably need to hire a contractor. Just like any service industry, of course, there is going to be some variation in quality. Hiring someone just because you came across their ad in the phone book usually isn't the best idea. For best results, you should have a list of must-haves when hiring someone to come carry out your project. You may have more in mind, but here are some qualities that no company should be without.

Experience

That new contractor that started his business last year on the other side of town? He may very well be the best in town, but he's not for you. There are a few problems in hiring someone who hasn't been in business for very long. One, you'll have little way of knowing what kind of reputation he has. He hasn't even had long enough to build a reputation. Two, longevity itself speaks for something. If someone can live and work in a community for many years, they are doing something right. Finally, experience itself matters. You can have all of the education in the world, but you need someone who isn't going to stare at an unforeseen problem like a deer caught in the headlights.

Prompt, Dependable Scheduling

If you've ever dealt with the cable company, you've experienced the old "Sometime between Tuesday and Friday" school of scheduling. Expect better from the contractor you hire for your project. If they say they are going to be there Wednesday at 8:00, they should be pulling into the driveway at just that time. Look for companies that place a lot of emphasis on their prompt scheduling in their advertisements. Talk to others who have used their services and see what they have to say about the crew's ability to show up on time.

Guarantees

A good contractor will stand behind their work. If you hire a plumber to come fix a leak in your kitchen sink and it leaks again next week, do you really expect to pay for the same service again? If you didn't get a guarantee on the work, you may very well be put into a situation where this is the case. Don't accept a spoken guarantee, either. If a company says they are willing to stand behind the work they do, they should be equally willing to put it into writing.