Special offer

How To Narrow Down Your Home Contractor Search

By
Real Estate Agent

Over recent years, home contractors have had a tough time attracting business. The combination of the national debt and housing crisis has resulted in homeowners to be more stringent regarding the investment they put into their homes.  

However, being as though many residents are staying put, now is the time to raise the property value of your home, which means finding a viable home contractor is imperative. To compete against the housing crisis, contractors have been forced to lower their costs to clients—giving you a great opportunity to improve the quality of your home.

But many homeowners make the common mistake regarding whom to hire. Don’t assume all contractors are experts at handling a broad range of tasks. For example, if you’re looking to install or design your dream swimming pool, hiring the same contractor who did a great job installing your floor, isn’t usually a wise investment. Take a closer look into whom you’re hiring, and in this case, you’ll want to look for experienced pool contractors san diego who have a diversified portfolio and high clientele.   

So, if you’re thinking making a change to your home, use the following suggestions to help find you the right contractor for the job:

Network referrals

One of, if not, the best ways to find a great home contractor are to seek referrals from trustworthy sources, such as family members and friends. And if you see a random home’s design that sparks your inspiration, don’t be afraid to knock on the door of that stranger to get his or her recommendation. However, it’s important to keep in mind that although referrals are great, not everyone’s budget is the same; hence, even if you find a great contractor, their service charge may be too high depending on certain personal financial restraints. 

Conduct interviews

Once you’re equipped with a list of potential contractors it’s time to being the hiring process. Make calls, visit their office or have them come to your home to get a better feeling of how each contractor differs from the other candidates. 

Pay attention to red flags

Business, especially during hard times, is largely associated with manipulation. With this in mind, pay attention to the tall tale signs of a home contractor that should be avoided:

  •       High upfront costs, or full amount of project is mandated before any building begins.
  •       When cash is the only form of payments—a sure tale sign cutting taxes or have some form of money issues.
  •       No actual or tangible office exists, except a post office box number.
  •       Is much too unoccupied with other business; if your contractor has plenty of availability to consult with you, there might be a reason why he or she lacks clients.

Get down to the specifics

Once your list has dwindled down to only a few impending contractors, finalize the deal by taking a closer look at the pros and cons of each builder. Double-check your references, navigate through their website and social media platforms, and most importantly, listen to what your gut tells you—not your wallet. Additionally, research previous projects and if possible, talk with previous clients to close the deal.

 

Image: https://pixabay.com/en/construction-building-window-370583/