Five Questions to Ask Before You Sign on the Dotted Line

You home is most likely the largest investment you will ever make. With that being said, you do not want just anyone working on it. When you are seeking out a new pediatrician for your children, you interview them. When you are looking to make a career move, you interview potential employers. When you are in search of a new vehicle, you interview the salesman. So do not make it any different when you are searching for the right contractor to work on your home. This article will cover five basic questions you need to ask, and the answers you want to hear.

Are a member of the local Chamber or any other professional organization?

While this is not necessary, it does show that they are serious about the trade they are in and about the reputation they hold in the community. Also, often times organizations often specialized training specific to their trade.

Do you carry insurance that protects me against something being broken?

There is no other answer than Yes to this question. You do not want to be held accountable for an accident that the contractor or their crew caused while on the job. If anything is broken by the contractor or crew it should always be the responsibility of that party to repair back to normalcy and cover all of that extended cost.

Do you have Workman’s Compensation Insurance for the employees /your crew?

A resounding Yes to this question as well. You need to make 100% sure that any worker coming onto your property to work is being covered by Worker’s Compensation Insurance. If they are not and someone is injured then it lands in your lap to handle any and all medical bills associated with the accident. Not something you want to deal with.

Are you Licensed?

This can be a tricky question depending on the state in which you reside. Make certain you contact the Licensing Board for your city to find out exactly what is needed in order to have a contractor working on the premises. Once you have those answers it is your obligation to make certain that the potential contractor shows you these licenses. Make copies of them and keep them until the job is complete.

How long have you been in the business?

There is no exact number of months or years for this question. You may want to consider references at this point. If they have at least 10-20 references then they have been in the business long enough to make a good name for themselves.

I can not stress enough the importance of being comfortable with your contractors. These people will be working in and around your home, you need to feel good with your decision. If for any reason you do not, keep looking. A relationship with a contractor needs to be a good, solid, and stable relationship. Much like a spouse, you need to be able to trust them to the fullest.

Wishing you all the best luck in your remodeling endeavors, Truly Noble Services.