Who to Hire: What to Look for in Home Contractors

When you invite someone in your home to make a repair or install a new piece of equipment, you begin with a list of questions. Among them, you will want to know:  Is the contractor honest and ethical? Will he do quality work and install quality equipment? Will he be timely, punctual and follow up on issues that could arise later?  

The Federal Trade Commission is well aware of the trouble homeowners find when they hire a disreputable contractor to perform services. Accordingly, they provide information at ftc.gov that guides homeowners on how to make this important decision. The first recommendation is:

Do Your Research

·         Check with friends, neighbors or co-workers who’ve used the contractor.

·         If you can, take a look at the work done and ask about their experience. Check for qualifications.

·         Look at websites you trust that post ratings and reviews. Do people seem to have similar experiences, good or bad? You also can check out a contractor’s online reputation by searching for the company’s name with words like “scam,” “rip-off” or “complaint.”

·         Find out how long they’ve been in business. Look for an established company whose record and reputation you can check out.

As you proceed, get written estimates. However, the FTC says, “Don’t automatically choose the lowest bidder. Ask for an explanation to see if there’s a reason for the difference in price.”

Signs of a Home Improvement Scam

How can you tell if a contractor might not be reputable? The FTC says you may not want to do business with someone who:

•                knocks on your door for business or offers you discounts for finding other customers

•                just happens to have materials left over from a previous job

•                pressures you for an immediate decision

•                only accepts cash, asks you to pay everything up-front or suggests you borrow money from a lender the contractor knows

•                asks you to get the required building permits

•                doesn’t list a business number in the local telephone directory

We’d be happy to answer any questions about the services we provide. Schedule an appointment or learn more about RC Mechanical, Inc. here.