Whether you need to hire a landscaper, a plumber or a pressure washing company to provide maintenance for your properties, there are several key traits that a professional contractor should have. Here is a list of questions to ask potential contractors before entering into a contractual agreement with them:
- Does the contractor have the knowledge, training and experience necessary to do the job right?
I know this sounds like a silly question – why would a contractor bid a job if he wasn’t qualified? Well you might be surprised. It’s not uncommon for a start-up or side-job company to say they have experience and training just to get the job. Ask them how long they have been in business, how many full time employees they have, and request references from customers that mirror your projects size and complexity. Another red flag may be if the contractor seems to be a “jack of all trades” instead of being experts in a specific line of work.
- Is the contractor insured, and if necessary bonded?
A contractor who does not maintain the proper Business Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurance Coverage is a serious risk to you. And if the contractor is hesitant about producing a Certificate of Liability Insurance do yourself a favor and cross them off the list. A contractor who does not provide Worker’s Compensation for his employees is breaking the law and is putting the liability on you. If one of his employees is injured on your property, the employee not covered by Worker’s Compensation can sue you for his injuries. You may be covered in this event under your own policy, but consider the potential impact on your future policy rates if this were to occur. A good guideline to use is a $2,000,000 in coverage. Of course, if the project size warrant’s additional coverage, please make sure the contractor is bondable.
- Does the contractor have the correct equipment needed to complete the job?
Don’t assume that the contractor has the proper equipment to provide you with a professional result. For example, you need 100 residential condominium units pressured wash, two companies are bidding the job; the first one is a professional pressure washing company, the second one is a local firefighter who pressure washes on his days off – both are pressure washers, but I doubt the latter of the two’s equipment is designed to clean different types of surfaces using the correct water pressure and detergents that can safely remove dirt, grime and mold. Nor does he have the technical training needed to perform the work.
- Make sure when comparing bids that you are comparing “apples to apples”.
Do not skip this step! Good contractors know they have to be competitive to win work, but that doesn’t mean they need to be the lowest price. Make sure when you are comparing bids that they are apples to apples. Be especially cautious if the low bidder says he is giving you the exact same service, product and timeframe as the other higher bidders. Now it may be possible, but it is more likely something is missing from the bid – like they may be using different products or manpower/labor costs are underestimated.
Follow these basic tips when hiring a contractor. By taking the time up front to qualify the contractor, you will save plenty of aggravation down the road.
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