If you’re planning a home renovation but you’re unsure of how to spot a good contractor, don’t worry. In a recent post for DIY Network home improvement expert Mike Holmes shares advice about what you should look for in a reputable, skilled contractor, and how to determine the right amount to pay for your project. We highlight his points for you here.
Skilled Contractors Are in High Demand
Depending on the number of messages they receive it’s not unusual for a licensed tradesperson to take a few days to answer your inquiry, says Holmes, since the average contractor is in business as an owner-operator—meaning they perform all work themselves and do their own client booking. So if you get a slow response it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It shows that your potential contractor is in demand. If the contractor tells you they’ll get to you as soon as they can and asks for your patience it’s a good indication that they won’t shortcut their work to get to yours, and likely won’t shortcut you for another client.
The home improvement expert also pointed out that good contractors are often booked two to four months in advance, and bad ones are usually immediately available. This could be an indication that they aren’t in demand, or that they’re willing to bump their current project to start on yours.
You Get What You Pay For
Holmes says that quotes for your home project that are on the higher end sometimes reflect a contractor’s skill level, or the price the market demands for those with reputations for top-quality work. Very low quotes can indicate the contractor doesn’t have the experience to accurately quote the job, and therefore doesn’t know what it takes to complete it properly. It could also mean that he or she knows how to take shortcuts with your project in order to underbid the legit contractors.
So what’s the right amount to pay for your project? To determine this you should get as many quotes as possible. Although the quotes may range drastically, a majority will come in around the same price. One of them will likely be the right price.
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