How To Choose the Best Contractor for Your Next Home Improvement Project!

It's the start of a new year and with tax season fast approaching homeowners will have some disposable income with which to improve their property.  One of the most important choices you will make before you actually begin any home improvement is choosing a contractor you can trust to complete the job.  Even if a contractor is building something for you in his or her shop or manufacturing facility, you will still need to trust them to enter your home for the installation process. This is a major issue of trust.  So how do you find the right contractor for your job?  Here are some tips on how to find a contractor who is right for you:

• The first step for choosing a contractor is to do research.  In the past, the only way you could find out about a contractor was through word of mouth with former clients or through calls to the Better Business Bureau.  Although these are still excellent ways of finding out if a contractor is reliable, they are not the only means at your disposal.  Another excellent tool is the internet, particularly websites like Angie's List (www.angieslist.com).  This provides clients with an opportunity to give detailed reviews and analysis of contractors in all fields so that you can make an informed decision.  In addition to this, Angie's List also provides several awards for top quality contracting work.  For instance, First Impression Security Doors has two Arizona ROC licenses and has earned  the Angie's List prestigious Super Service Award for an outstanding seven straight years.  Only 5% of contractors receive this award annually, and only 1% receive it twice consecutively.  To be the recipient seven years in a row is a testament to trust and quality that speaks volumes for core value of providing complete customer satisfaction.

• Check out the contractor's showroom or manufacturing facility.  Although catalogs and pictures of  past work are great, it is also important to touch and feel the actual product or service the contractor offers so that you can view first hand the quality of work you should expect.

• Once you have narrowed your search down to a few contractors who meet your standards of quality, begin the process of obtaining price estimates and getting a better understanding of the overall value you are receiveing for that price.  Remember that the cheapest price may not be the best price, as the old saying goes "You get what you pay for."  You also want to look at things such as company history and reputation, the quality of materials, and the turn around time for the project.  Sure the bid may be low, but if the company has so many projects in the pipeline that they cannot complete your job for months, it may be necessary to look elsewhere for a contractor. 

• Once you select a contractor, make sure that you read over the contract closely before you sign it.  Look at all of the fine print to make sure that you understand all of your obligations as well as all of the contractor's obligations.  Include in the contract a timeline for the work to be completed.  You should understand while unforeseen circumstances may cause the need for flexibility with this timeline, the contract should still provide a general guide that the contractor must follow in completing the project.  It should also include a schedule for payment with the initial down payment usually being 50% of the total project cost with the final balance due upon completion of the project.

These are just a few of the areas that you should look for when choosing a contractor. The choice is a tough one because it represents a major cash investment and a major issue of trust in allowing a stranger into your home. This is why it is so important to do your research when selecting your contractor.