Hiring a Licensed Contractor: 5 Things You Need to Know

Hiring a licensed contractor is never something you should go into blindly. If you want to make a good decision, here are five things you need to know.

#1. Does he offer good pricing?

Finding good pricing in a licensed contractor isn't the same things as choosing the lowest possible bid. It does mean looking for a good deal, but there is a limit to how low you should go. Let's say you need a roof repaired. You call three companies and get quotes ranging from $500 to $700. You call a fourth company and they quote you $150. Something is wrong. Assuming the fault isn't yours (you didn't provide the same information to every company), some corners are getting cut to come up with a price that low. On the other hand, you don't want a company that's going to gouge you for the same materials and workmanship you can get for much less.

#2. What kind of work do they do?

This is where you like to see some pictures. If you're going to hire a licensed contractor to remodel your kitchen, there's nothing wrong with requiring some samples of their past efforts. If possible, you may even want to take a trip out and see the work for yourself. Many homeowners are more than happy to show off the work they've had done. Take advantage of any opportunity you can to see what kind of quality the company brings to the table.

#3. Will they complete on time?

It's a good idea to get an approximate completion date in writing. You don't need a two week project turning into a two month affair. Having workers around the house can be a major inconvenience. Make sure the guys your hire are going to do their best to get done and get out of your hair as soon as possible.

#4. Do they guarantee their work?

Do not ever hire a licensed contractor who is unwilling to put a warranty on his work. If he believes in the work he is doing, he should have no problem offering you a guarantee on both the materials and the workmanship. You don't want to wind up paying for the same thing twice.

#5. Know the subcontractors.

If you're hiring a licensed contractor who will subcontract some of the work, you need to make sure you are as thorough in vetting those individuals and companies as you were with the initial hire. You'll also want to make sure that you don't become liable for payments should your primary company fail to pay the subcontractors for their work.