Home maintenance projects often need the special touch of a reliable professional. HVAC, plumbing, electrical repairs, and carpentry repairs and updates can sometimes be beyond the capabilities of everyday homeowners. It’s often less time consuming and can save you money in the long-run if you run into problems hiring a knowledgeable professional. Plus, the safety of your family and home can be better protected. The problem often comes into play of knowing who you should hire.
Qualities of Reliable Contractors
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You chose to go with a professional to make sure that the task you needed done was completed safely and correctly, while being on time and at the budget set in the beginning of the process. Dealing with an unreliable contractor can be a massive headache.
Some signs of reliable contractors include:
- Being licensed and bonded.
- Having proof of certifications and accreditation.
- Positive recommendations and reviews.
- Offers warranties and guarantees.
- Obtains the proper permits.
- Gives you a contract in writing of the scope of the project along with the final cost.
Reliable contractors are those that show up on time, do the work they are hired to do, and leave the area in the same or better condition than when they showed up. Here are some ways that you can spot those that are reliable among the mass of professionals.
Get Recommendations
One of the best first steps to take when you need an HVAC repair or a plumbing service is to ask around. Your friends and family members are excellent sources of information on what local companies do a good job and which ones you can skip due to a bad experience they had with them. You can often get a few suggestions in this manner that can help you in narrowing down your search.
Do Your Homework
Once you’ve started to find some potential contractors and companies, you’ll want to look over their websites, if available. Their site can be a great indicator of what types of licenses, guarantees, and more they offer, without having to pick up the phone. Some of these websites will provide before and after pictures of previous jobs completed that can help give you a feel for their workmanship.
However, don’t only look at their website. Look for online reviews that have been posted to sites like Angie’s List or Yelp to get a more unbiased view of prior clients. A company is probably not going to post a before and after photo of an unhappy client. You’ll also want to look at legal information, such as whether they have any ongoing litigation.
Estimates and Interview Process
A final way to help identify a reliable home repair professional to work with is by speaking with them. Taking an opportunity to talk with them can help you gauge their knowledge about their business and get a feel for whether you’ll be comfortable working with them. Getting estimates is the perfect time to do this step. Most agree that you should try to get at least three estimates from different companies before making a decision.
It may take a little time to find the right professional, but taking a little extra time for repairs and projects can mean they are completed correctly the first time around.