Before hiring anyone to work on your home, you should interview them thoroughly to make sure they are the right “fit” for your needs. Here are a few questions you should ask any contractor before hiring them:
- How long have you been in business? – The longer they have been in business, the better the possibility that they are not a “fly-by-night” company. Check with consumer protection organizations, such as the local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints on file and, if there are, find out if and how the complaints were settled. However, keep in mind that, just because they have no complaints filed with a consumer protection organization means they haven’t had any complaints at all. There may be issues that simply haven’t been filed yet or they may operate under several different names. That’s where your homework comes in.
- Are you registered and licensed with the state? – While electrical and plumbing contractors are typically required to be licensed by the state, more than 25% of the states don’t require state licenses for specialty contractors, general contractors or remodelers. Also, some parts of the state may have strict licensing requirements but other parts may not. Check with your city’s building department to see what the license requirements are in your area. If your state requires contractors to be licensed, ask for the contractor to show you his license and make sure it is current.
- In the last year, how many jobs (like yours) have you done? – Get a list of these jobs to see just how familiary they are with doing work on your specific kind of job. All jobs are different and require different skills. You want to feel confident that they know what they are doing.
- Will my project require any permits? – Most states and local governments require that any building project have a permit filed with them. This even includes building a deck onto the back of your home. A contractor should attain any necessary permits before beginning any work on your home. If they tell you that you have to get the permit(s), be suspicious. This could mean that they aren’t licensed or registered.
- Can you provide me with a list of references? – Every contractor should be able to provide you with names, addresses and phone numbers of three other projects similar to yours that they have worked on in the past. Contact the references and ask them how long it took the contractor to complete work on their project and how good/bad their work was. Also, let the contractor know that you would like to visit any jobs they currently are working on to see how the work is going.
- Will there be subcontractors used on my project? – If so, ask to meet up with them so you can check out their licenses and insurance coverage. Ask the subcontractors if the contractor has paid them on time or if they are paid late/not at all. This is important because, if a contractor doesn’t pay the subcontractor, the subcontractor or supplier can place a “mechanic’s lien” on your home which can mean that you could be forced to sell your home to pay the unpaid bill your project incurred. To protect yourself, request that the contractor, subcontractor(s) and all suppliers sign a lien release or waiver to leave you out of the loop financially for the contractor’s debt.
- What kind of insurance do you have? – Every contractor should be covered for worker’s compensation, personal liability and property damage. Get copies of the insurance documents and check to see that they are current. If a contractor doesn’t carry insurance, don’t hire them. You will be responsible for any injuries or damage caused while working on your home, no matter who’s fault they are.
