How to Spot a Bad Home Renovation Contractor Before Hiring Them
Hiring someone to renovate your home is a big deal. You want someone who is trustworthy and does a good job. But sometimes, it’s hard to tell if a contractor is good or bad before you hire them. Here are some tips to help you spot a bad contractor before you start your home renovation.
1. They Don’t Have Good References
- Ask for References: A good contractor will be happy to give you the names of people they have worked for before. You can call these people and ask if they were happy with the work.
- Look Online: Check reviews online to see what other people say about their work. If there are many bad reviews, be careful.
2. They Don’t Have the Right Papers
- License and Insurance: Good contractors should have a license to work and insurance in case something goes wrong. Ask to see these papers.
- Permits: Sometimes, you need special permission, called a permit, to do big changes to a house. A good contractor knows this and gets all permits before starting work.
3. They Give You a Bad Feeling
- Listen to Your Gut: When you talk to the contractor, do you feel they are honest? If something feels wrong, it might be.
- Clear Plans: A good contractor can clearly tell you what they will do, how long it will take, and how much it will cost. If they can’t or won’t give you clear answers, that’s not good.
4. Their Prices Are Too Good to Be True
- Compare Prices: It’s smart to talk to different contractors and see how much they charge. If one contractor’s price is much lower than the others, ask why. Sometimes a low price means they might use cheap materials or do a bad job.
5. They Want Too Much Money Up Front
- Payment Plan: Most contractors ask for some money before they start and the rest after they finish. Be careful if they want all the money before they even start.
6. They Can’t Show Past Work
- See Their Work: Ask if you can see other houses they have worked on. If they don’t have any pictures or places you can visit, that’s a red flag.
7. They Rush You
- Take Your Time: Good contractors understand that you need time to decide. If they try to rush you into deciding, they might not be good.
8. They Don’t Communicate Well
- Stay in Touch: A good contractor will talk to you often and answer your questions. If it’s hard to talk to them or they don’t call you back, that might mean they are not good.
What to Do If You Spot a Bad Contractor?
- Keep Looking: There are many good contractors out there. If you spot these red flags, it’s better to find someone else.
- Ask for Advice: If you’re not sure, talk to friends or family who have done renovations. They can give you advice.
Conclusion:
Hiring a good contractor can make your home renovation a great experience. It’s worth taking the time to find someone good, so you don’t have to worry about bad work or losing money.
Another Pro Tip to watch out for – Do they have a nicely-well maintained website? Are they active on social media posting regularly their projects they just finished up? And do they have well written and thoughtful google reviews?
Guess what D&G Contracting has all of these! Checkout our facebook page to give it a like and see our recent projects we worked on. Also be sure to read over our reviews on our Google Business Page.
