When it comes to your home, you only want the best, right?
From the furniture you buy to the way you clean it, everything is done to take care of your house and create your perfect sanctuary. So why should the people repairing it be any different?
If you’re on the hunt for home repair services, you need to make sure you’re getting the best. To help you out, we’ve put together our top tips for finding a quality home repair professional.
Read on to find out more!
A Contractor or a Handyman?
If you’re looking for a home repair professional, it’s best to hire a contractor and not a handyman. While a handyman is great if you’re in a fix and need emergency home repair, such as if a door is stuck or you have a problem with your sink, they’re not the best for proper jobs.
This is because a handyman isn’t trained and specialized in any one area.
A handyman may get the job done, but it won’t be to the same standard as a trained and experienced contractor. For jobs that involve electricity or plumbing, you should never rely on a handyman as a small error from their lack of experience could lead to major and expensive issues in the future! Instead, find contractors that are specialized for the job.
What Type of Contractor Do You Need?
If you’re looking to find contractors, it’s important to know that there are different types out there. If you’re looking for specific repair work to be done, such as laying new flooring, you’ll use a subcontractor. This is an individual who is specialized in this area.
There’s also a general contractor. A general contractor is usually a whole company that can take on larger projects, which is perfect if you’re doing a home renovation. They’ll manage your project and team you up with subcontractors that they’ve picked themselves.
Now you know more about who you’re hiring, let’s move onto how to find the best contractors for your job.
Ask for References
Chances are that you know someone who’s had similar work done on their home before. Whether it’s a plumbing job or you’re looking to waterproof your basement, ask friends and family for their experiences with different contractors. Not only will this give you some good contractors to look into, but it could also help you skip the terrible ones!
If you don’t have anyone who can give you relevant references, ask your local building trade association for help. They should know the details of many professional contractors who will be up for the job! You could also ask your insurance company for recommendations, even if they’re not paying for the job, as they’ll usually know some reputable contactors.
Do Some Online Research
The internet is a great place to find out more about contractors and separate the component from the cowboys. Websites like HomeAdvisor help take the guesswork out of finding contractors. These comparison sites have a huge database of verified reviews and price points, helping you find the right people for your job.
Once you’ve found a couple of promising contractors, make a list of the best and start to narrow them.
Check for a License and Insurance
Every contractor you consider should have a license and certificate of insurance. From your shortlist, contact each of your contenders to make sure they can show you copies of these. No matter what state you’re in, every contractor should have both of these things; if they don’t, cross them off of your list!
When you have their license number, make sure you get in touch with your local municipality to check that the contractor is legally running their business.
Ask the Right Questions
When your hunt to find contractors is well underway, you should ask your shortlisted people some questions to gauge whether they’re a good fit. Here are some examples:
- Do you belong to any local trade associations?
- How long have you been a contractor?
- What experience do you have?
- Do you have any areas of expertise?
- What kind of timeline could you complete my project in?
- How should I pay you?
For that last question, remember that no good contractor will ever ask for full payment upfront. They might ask you for a deposit and regular payment throughout the project but never all in one single chunk. If they ask for payment upfront, steer clear.
Check out Their Past Work
Before you invite contractors around for a home inspection, make sure you take a look at their past work and recent references. These will give you a clear idea of just how good the contractor is and whether they’re the right person for the job. Take a look to see if there are any case studies of work on their website and, if there aren’t, request some images of past work or references directly.
It’s also a good idea to do a quick Google search of your contractor’s name. If there are tons of bad reviews or reports of them leaving home damage unfixed, you’ll know who to avoid!
Hire the Right Contractor for Your Home Repair
When it comes to home repair work, it definitely pays to be picky with the contractor you chose. Not just anyone will be able to fix your issues and leave you happy with the end result, so take your time! Be thorough with your research and, if you can, go with someone who’s been recommended to you.
If you’re on the hunt for basement waterproofing, foundation crack repairs, or crawlspace encapsulation, make sure to check out our work at Armored Basement Waterproofing!
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