Choosing The Right Contractor For Your Home Improvement Project
Owning and maintaining a home is a lot of work. While some enjoy performing routine maintenance and tackling improvement projects and do so with enthusiasm, others are not quite as keen on painting the living room, repairing the deck, or completing other repairs, upgrades, and restoration projects that come with home ownership and prefer to use professionals to get the job done. And then there’s the elderly population. While they may have meticulously cared for their homes inside and out for years without issue, age, illness, and other life circumstances have made it hard or impossible to do so now. In that case, hiring a contractor may be the best way to proceed but it is important to choose a qualified contractor. Unfortunately, there are contractors around that may apply too much pressure when trying to close the sale, lack the proper insurance and licensing, and that may not provide the quality of service you are looking for.
Beware of home improvement contractors who use predatory sales techniques
When it comes to predatory sales techniques, seniors are the most at-risk and are preyed upon more than other age segments of homeowners. This method of sales can take the form of high-pressure sales, persuasion, and even manipulation and often misrepresents the work to be completed, the materials to be used, and the price may be deceptive.
Contractors who knock on your door saying they just performed a job for someone in the neighborhood (they may even give you a name or a house number).
Contractors who don’t offer or refuse to provide their company name, phone number, a business card, or any other identifying information.
Contractors who tell you they’ll take a post-dated check if you can’t afford to pay right away.
Contractors who only accept cash.
Contractors who pressure you to make an immediate decision
Contractors who try to guilt you into a service by saying they need the money because they have a sick loved one.
Contractors who give you a verbal quote and nothing in writing.
Where to look for a contractor
If you’re looking for a home improvement contractor to help you install a roll-in shower, remodel your kitchen, or another project all together, we recommend:
Asking friends, family, and those you trust for their recommendations first.
Using Nextdoor and other groups on social media that can provide local recommendations.
Searching online for contractors near you with excellent reviews.
Questions to ask a contractor before hiring
Once you’ve found a contractor or a company you’re interested in, there are several questions you should ask, including:
Can you provide references?
Will you provide a written quote/estimate that clearly details the scope of the project, the materials used, and the timeframe?
What forms of payment do you accept and what does the payment schedule look like?
Are you licensed to work in my area and for the work you need done?
Who will oversee the project?
Are you fully insured and can you provide proof of insurance?
If building permits are needed, will you obtain them?
Will you use sub-contractors for the job?
Choosing your home improvement contractor
Upon completing your research and asking the necessary questions, there’s just one more step and that’s making your final decision. We strongly encourage homeowners to take their time and think through their decision. There is no need to rush (unless of course there’s a hole in the floor or something that demands immediate attention) so don’t let anyone try to pressure you into make your selection. To protect yourself against unqualified contractors or just to make sure you have a peace about your decision, we also recommend the following tips:
Shop around.
Hire local.
Know what you want before you call a contractor.
Greater Birmingham Home Improvement Specialists
Homeowners in Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, and Hoover as well as those throughout the Greater Birmingham metro area have been relying on Serve One Construction for their services for more than 10 years. If you’re searching for a home improvement company that you can trust to help you care for your home, we are the smart choice. Locally owned and fully insured, our full-time team has the skills, tools, and experience to help you with your next project.
