10 Helpful Tips and One Must-Do When Hiring a Contractor

So you’re planning a few home updates, improvements or repairs, maybe an entire remodel, you have a plumbing headache or an electrical predicament, maybe your home needs painting inside or out, perhaps your family could use some extra space and an addition is in your future. You need a contractor, so where do you start?

Overall, I agree with the helpful suggestions for hiring a contractor, provided by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the tips in the post below are definitely worth noting. However, I was surprised that there seemed to be a few glaring omissions, most notably, confirming that your contractor is licensed to operate in your state.

Every state has a roster of licensed contractors, the vocations for which they are certified, and the level and specifics of their qualifications. This is public information and easily obtainable. You would be remiss if you failed to do your research.

Case in point, a Phoenix couple hired a landscaping contractor who was recommended by a trusted co-worker. The couple’s new back yard would be finished with pavers, turf and a fire pit, for the price of $18,000, the most affordable estimate they received. The contractor requested half the money up front. After several months of wildly varied excuses, the only thing the couple had to show for the $9,000 already withdrawn from their account, was a pile of sand. They requested a refund of their money or delivery of the materials they had paid for. Neither materialized. A belated check of their contractor’s state issued license unfortunately turned up nothing. A search for the contractor himself was also unsuccessful.

There are far more of these situations than we ever hear about, and in cases like this you have very little recourse. This case study was provided on the ABC Arizona web site by the wonderful folks at “Let Joe Know” who are currently attempting to locate the offending contractor. We’ve seen the Let Joe Know team clear up many of these dilemmas, but sadly they’ve no luck with this one as of the date of this post.

Before you hire a contractor of any kind, run through the tips below from NICB, and carefully check with the state for an official contractor license. Do not rely on your contractor to provide this to you, verify it with the state yourself!

Follow These Tips Before Hiring a Contractor
Information provided by NICB via RIS Media

If you’re adding an addition or plan to build a new home, you likely have a ton on your plate. Planning, researching, and dreaming up designs can be fun, but stressful. When it comes to hiring the right contractor, make sure you do your due diligence so you don’t end up with a lemon.

NICB suggests you consider these tips before hiring a contractor:

Get more than one estimate.
Get everything in writing. Cost, work to be done, time schedules, guarantees, payment schedules and other expectations should be detailed.
Demand references and check them out.
Ask to see the salesperson’s driver’s license and write down the license number and their vehicle’s license plate number.
Never sign a contract with blanks; unacceptable terms can be added later.
Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is finished and ensure reconstruction is up to current code.
Make sure you review and understand all documents sent to your insurance carrier.
Never let a contractor pressure you into hiring them.
Never let a contractor interpret the insurance policy language.
Never let a contractor discourage you from contacting your insurance company.