To Trust, or Not Trust, that is the question…

Sadly, I daily listen to new customers share bad experiences they’ve had with contractors.  Their frequent complaints are mostly due to substandard workmanship and unprofessionalism, such as: delayed start, not returning phone calls, not showing up daily or very infrequently, taking months to finish, and not returning to fix/correct their work.  The worst is when a contractor hits them in the pocketbook by taking their money (and not completing the work), or when they keep asking for more money (beyond what the customer agreed to).

So, how does one weed through the multitude of contractors out there and find the best one for the job?  Usually, these disappointments could have been safeguarded had they considered these important preliminary points:

1. Research the company: All reputable contractors have positive online reviews from a variety of sources: Angie’s List, Google Maps, Yelp, Houzz, etc.  A good company will strive to keep their record clear and have very satisfied customers.  In addition, many neighborhoods use NextDoor and/or Facebook Groups to obtain recommendations from their neighbors.
2. Everything needs to be in writing (contract), and in detail, or it does not exist. Read the contract carefully, have it adjusted if items are missing or changes needed.  Work out the details before signing.  This may take longer but is well worth the effort.
3. NEVER hire work based on price alone: Remodeling and painting are never cheap.  Cheap means something is missing, you probably will not be a priority, the work could be sub-standard, and/or the company is in desperate conditions and, thus, more than likely will not be around to back up their work.  Ultimately, you will probably end up disappointed.  For example, typically a full bathroom remodeling could cost as little as $12,000 and as much as $32,000, depending on the size of the room.  However, there are companies that offer unbelievable prices for remodeling, $6,000 to $8,000 for a bathroom.  It looks great, but it is a good bet that you will be joining the club of contractor haters. Remember: When comparing companies, ensure your comparing “apples-to-apples”.  In other words, the work and products should be the same.
4. Ensure the legitimacy of the company: All companies should have a federal tax i.d., registered to work within Texas, be building contractor registered locally (when doing remodeling work), and have general liability insurance.