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Choosing A Contractor
Whether you are new to the area
or a lifelong resident of the Asheville area finding a
reliable contractor to work around your home or business can
be a very frustrating task. Established contractors who have
been around for years may be a good bet but don't rule out
new businesses. New business owners are usually trying to
build a good customer base and will go out of their way to
please the customer. Most of these new business owners have
worked for several years for someone else in their
respective field. They may have the field work knowledge but
may go through a learning curve on the business end.
Regardless of how long the contractor has been in business
there are a few simple rules to follow when choosing a new
contractor.
The Project
 Determine what size
project you are wanting to do. Have written down ideas and
pictures of specific looks you are wanting. Be detailed,
you might want to get samples of materials you want to use
from local home improvement stores like Lowes and Home
Depot. "Google" your new project. The internet is a vast
resource for ideas. Someone somewhere has already done a
project like yours and you may get some good ideas from others experiences.
If you are not comfortable with what you are about to undertake,
you might want to hire a
General
Contractor or Interior Designer to help you with all
the project specifications. Using a General Contractor can
make a large project less stressful and more time effective.
They have a source of sub-contractors that they use on a
regular basis and know the quality of workmanship and
capabilities of each specialist.
Licensed and Insured
Professionals
Most contractors are licensed
by the state for there respected field. You can find that
information by referring to the
License Info page. A
license alone does not guarantee a excellent contractor.
Contractors should carry Workman's
Compensation and
General Liability insurance policies. Get a Certificate of
Insurance. This is sent from the contractors insurance agent
NOT from the contractor himself. This document proves the
contractor is insured and what limits are in place. Do not
accept a document from the contractor, it may be out of date
or the policy may have been cancelled. Insurance companies
do not charge to send these documents to customers. If the
work is to be done at your business keep a copy of this
certificate on file. The certificate will be good until the
insurance company sends a notice of cancellation. This way a
contractor can't buy a policy, get the agent to send a
certificate of insurance to the customer, then cancel the
policy as soon as the proposal is signed. Ask for proof of insurance
from the contractor before the work begins. This could help
from making you liable for any injuries suffered on the job.
Bid Time
It is recommended that you find
at least three contractors that you are comfortable with
and ask for them to submit a detailed bid. You need to be as
specific as you can. Be sure to include pictures, name
brands and samples of products when you can, to assist your
contractor with your bid. Some contractors carry photos of
some of their past projects to show their quality of work. You can also ask for references
of past customers and contact them for comments and
satisfaction, keep in mind that a business owner will not
give a reference from a known dissatisfied customer.
Quotations
 Don't sign a proposal yet! Once you've decided which
contractor to use there are a few more questions to ask.
Make sure the contractor gives you a detailed quotation
specifying the type or particular brand of items used. Don't
settle for generic terms such as "siding" make sure it
specifies "hardy plank siding" or "cultured stone", vinyl etc.
Agree on a time frame. You don't want your project to drag
out forever. Agree on start and finish dates. Keep in mind
that there are numerous things to delay the project that
will be beyond reasonable control such as weather and
product availability. Other delays could be the contractors
scheduling. His other jobs may get behind forcing your
project to be delayed, so allow some leeway. If a contractor
started and finished every job on time he would have way too
many workers and charge way too much!
Staff Writer
AshevilleContractors.com
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