Finding the Right Contractor: The Essential Facts - Part One

As a landlord, you will from time to time, need to hire a contractor to make repairs or renovations to your property. In this series of three articles, you’ll find information that will help you understand the issues involved in making the best selection.

One of the most important things to know about hiring a contractor is that you get what you pay for. One of the most common (and expensive) errors people make is that in trying to save a few dollars, they hire the cheapest contractor they can find. This road leads inevitably to disaster.

The absolutely best way to find a contractor is via referral by a satisfied client. Ask people you know who have hired contractors and ask questions about quality of work, pricing and communication skills. Were there any surprises, pleasant or otherwise? You can also check with local government, town hall or landlord associations. Be aware that referrals from these kinds of sources may be affected by politics and friendships and may not necessarily point you towards the best work.

A contractor should carry liability insurance. In some areas contractors may also have licenses but often a license means nothing in terms of providing you with any assurances about the quality of a given contractor’s work. You can check with city hall or The Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against a contractor you are considering.

If you have no references as a starting point then your next best option is to drive around the neighborhoods near your own property and look for places where contractors are working. Stop in and introduce yourself and ask to see what they are doing. Any contractor worth his or her salt will be happy to show off their craftsmanship: if they hem and haw, walk away.

Be very wary of searching blindly through listings for contractors in the phone book or on-line resources. If you must do this know you will have more work to do in checking referrals they give you. Look for people who have been in business for a while. This is not to say that new comers to the game won’t do a good job, but you will always do better in the long run going with someone with years of experience. You don’t want someone using your job as his or her educational playground.

In Part Two, you’ll learn about some of the common misconceptions people have about contractors and we’ll tell you what the truth really is.