When hiring a contractor for your home project or home improvement, you want to be sure they are reputable and trustworthy. Contractors come in all shapes and sizes, from old-timers who have been doing this for decades to newbies just out of school. There are no universal signs that indicate whether a contractor is legitimate; but there are red flags that you should look out for if you're not sure. Here are some things you can do to check out prospective contractors before they start working on your home project and make sure they are the real deal.
Be Able to See Their Work
You can't see into someone's past and their future all at once, but you can look at a contractor's past work and references. If they have a website, check to see if they have any previous projects listed. It's okay if they don't have a website yet, but if they don't have any references listed or very few, that is a red flag. The best way to do this is to call the references they provide and ask a few questions about the job. If they don't want to discuss it with you then that's a bad sign.
Ask for a Broken-Down Contract
Many contractors will ask to see your plans so they can provide an estimate. It's a good idea to put a copy of your plans in an electronic folder where they can access them from their computer. But if they ask for a copy that they can keep in their file cabinet or something like that, that's a red flag. The reason for this is because you may change your mind about your plans or the scope of the project and want to change something, but the contractor won't have access to the original plan. If they want a copy that can't be changed, that's a red flag that they aren't trustworthy.
Check Their License
In most states, contractors must be licensed to perform work on someone's home. You can check to see if they are licensed in the state where you live by visiting your state's contracting or department of labor website. If you don't see a license number or name, that's a red flag.
Ask for Their Insurance
If something goes wrong on the job, you want the contractor to be able to have their insurance cover the damage. You can't require them to carry a certain amount of coverage, but you can ask them if they have insurance and what type of insurance they carry. If they don't carry any type of insurance, that's a red flag.
Don't Let Them Finish the Job
If a contractor finishes the job and then gives you an estimate for the balance, that's a red flag. Contractors get paid according to the percentage of what's completed. If the project is finished before they finish the balance, they get paid according to the amount they've completed. If you accept that as the final price and pay the entire amount up front, that's a red flag.
Conclusion
There are many things you can do to check out a prospective contractor before they start working on your home project and make sure they are the real deal. You can't see into someone's past and their future all at once, but you can look at a contractor's past work and references. If they have a website, check to see if they have any previous projects listed. It's okay if they don't have a website yet, but if they don't have any references listed or very few, that is a red flag.