Choosing The Right Contractor
DIY and Pro Help With Your Home Projects
 1. Permanent place of business 2. Permanent telephone number (not just a cellular number since these phone can be purchase and trashed for very little cost) 3. Tax identification number or business license (if your state requires it) 4. Bonded and Insurance. Ask for a copy of his/her liability coverage and workers' compensation certificates. Make sure the coverage is in effect through the duration of the job. If a contractor is not properly insured, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property. 5. Current License. Some states have specific licensing requirements. Contact your state's Department of Professional Regulation or Licensing Board to confirm status. 6. Make sure the contractor is financially stable. A good contractor can provide current financial information about his company. Try to minimize your up front payments. Many contractors require earnest money before they will put you into their queue. This money is used to cover building permits and materials. If you have any doubts, offer to pay for the materials when they are delivered (COD). Contactors that do not have the cash reserves to start your job without a big up front payment are also the same contractors that will drop your job mid-project if another bigger source of cash comes along. 7. Check to see if the contractor is a member of any professional associations, such as NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association) or NAHB (National Association of Home Builders). 8. Call your local Better Business Bureau to check for any complaints filed against the roofer. 9. Ask the contractor what type of safety and professional training he provides for his workers and what industry education programs they have attended. The best contractor is only as good as the employees that actually do the work.
Check the contractor's quality and project requirements including: Ask to see work that the contractor is currently doing or recently finished. See if you can speak to the owner to get a reference. Insist on a detailed, work specification (requirement or agreement). Examine it for complete descriptions of the materials and quality of work. Make any corrections before the work starts. Check for starting and end dates and payment requirements. This document is invaluable if they try to put a mechanics lean on your property for lack of payment.
Be very suspicious of a contractor who won't document the work requirements. Carefully read any warranties offered, and look for provisions that would void it.
Be cautious of the lowest bid. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many fly-by-night contractors' low-ball bids are a trap that could cost you more than you ever expected. These contractors are often uninsured and perform substandard work. They may also be planning on gouging you for changes to the work requirement after the job is started. The information on this site is provided for reference only and is provided "AS IS", "AS AVAILABLE" with no guarantee of accuracy. Information comes with no warranties, express or implied. Use the information from this site at your own risk. See our disclaimer for more details. |