We talk a lot about construction tips, but today we’d like to focus on something a little different: finding the right people to do the job. When you’re looking to make renovations or repairs to your home, you want to find the best contractors you can. But how do you weed out the bad ones and work with the ones who are really on your side?
The Issue
Unfortunately, not every contractor you come across is going to be the right one.
It’s easy to assume that the contractor you hire is going to do a great job, and many of them will. However, like with any business, your results might vary based on who’s doing the work. Sometimes it can be minor mistakes, but at times, you might be looking at major issues, all because you picked the wrong guy.
And of course, that extra cost and time is going to fall right back to you.
Picking the wrong contractor can lead to the following negative outcomes:
- Extra costs: If someone isn’t up to the task, you’ll obviously end up paying for it in the long run. This typically means hiring another contractor to complete the work that wasn’t finished, or even to undo what was supposed to be done the first time.
- Poor workmanship: Just because your contractor slapped something together with the funds you provided doesn’t mean it’s going to hold up. Best case, you’ll have to pay again down the line for a better, higher quality job. Worst case, you’re looking at additional costs to deal with damages, all because the worker didn’t do the job correctly as they should have.
- Work not being completed: If you pay the contractor up front, you could end up running into the worst situation: nothing coming from it at all. Paying the wrong guy up front leaves them wide open to take the money and run. Now you’re short a couple thousand dollars, and that leak doesn’t seem to be fixing itself.
How to Fix It
So how do you avoid it?
You know you need to find honest contractors who know what they’re doing, but you might be a little lost on how to find them. Thankfully, after decades in the construction and real estate business, The Zachos Team has gotten pretty good at figuring out who we don’t want to work with.
And as a result, we’ve got an even better idea of who we do.
Here’s a few tips to make sure you’re hiring the right contractor and protecting yourself in the process:
- Look for busy contractors: If the contractor you’re looking at is booked for the near future, don’t give up; that just means they’re worth working with. If the repair isn’t urgent, it might be worth waiting a week or two for someone whose current schedule is proof that they can get the job done. On the other hand, be wary of those who are ready to book right away; there’s probably a reason why.
- Check your references: Don’t be afraid to check the contractor’s references and call around a bit to see how they did. If a contractor does a great job, they’ll have no problem sharing who they’ve worked with in the past, since they know they’ll have a glowing review and another sale in the bag.
- Don’t pay (much) upfront: Paying only after the work is done is a great way to protect yourself, as good contractors won’t be scared away by payment after the work is done. It’s alright to pay a little upfront to help cover cost of materials, but you should always avoid a substantial cost right off the bat, as it raises the chance that you won’t see a return on your investment.
The Results
If you follow these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to getting the quality work you deserve.
It’s never a good feeling to throw money down the drain, but these tips can ensure that you find quality repairs at a cost that’s worth paying for. While a lot of homeowners end up being victims of shady business practices, it gets easier to spot the red flags the more you’re involved in the process. As we mentioned before, this is a business like any other.
And it’s certainly a business with ups and downs.
Want to keep the ups coming? Consider working with The Zachos Team. Our decades of expertise ensures that we’re better at spotting the good, the bad, and the ugly than many others. If you want an agent who can guide you through the process every step of the way, give The Zachos Team a call, and we’ll answer any questions you might have on the process.
Written by Paul Zachos III