The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Trustworthy Residential Contractor

Whether renovating an investment property or a personal residence, finding the right contractor is critical to your project.

Ask for Referrals

Referrals are a valuable tool for real estate professionals when they cannot help a client with a specific transaction type. This is especially true if they’re not licensed to handle the transaction.

One of the best methods to evaluate a contractor’s experience and professionalism is to ask them for recommendations from former customers. Be sure to call each of these references and ask questions about their project, including whether the contractor stuck to the budget and finished on time. It is also good to check online reviews, particularly those posted on social media and contractor-matching services. 

Ask for a Written Contract

As with all business interactions, it is important to get things in writing. Reputable residential contractor Loveland CO will happily provide a written contract containing all verbal promises made. The contract should include a start and completion date, a detailed work description, material costs, payment arrangements, warranty information, and more. Whoever is in charge of obtaining building permissions should be obvious.

Ask a few questions and make notes as you interview builders so that you can ensure certain vocal agreements are ultimately included in the formal contract you agree to. This will protect you from any problems that arise down the road. Before deciding, visit recently completed and current residential projects to see firsthand the work. Be sure to cross any builders that do not have a valid contractor license off your list.

Check References

Checking references is one of the best ways to determine if a residential contractor is trustworthy. It is important to ask if past customers can provide testimonials of their work and primary methods. Additionally, you should request that the contractors give you recent recommendations for your required work.

Before checking references, it’s a good idea to make a list of questions to get the most out of the relationship. 

Check the contractor’s social media pages for reviews and endorsements of their prior work. It is a sign of professionalism that they are willing to share this information publicly. If you discover that the contractor’s social media pages contain inaccurate or deceptive material, it may be a sign that they are dishonest with you.

Check Licenses and Insurance

The last stage in the screening procedure is checking to determine if your contractor has insurance and a license. It is very important to work with licensed contractors; it not only ensures that they will do a quality job but also gives homeowners some protection in the event of an incident during renovation.

Request the contractor’s license number and cross-check with your state’s licensing authority. Then, check if their insurance and worker’s compensation coverage is current.

If they can or unwillingly provide you with this information, that is a red flag and should be considered a warning. Additionally, it is crucial to inquire about their bonding. If a contractor is associated, they have obtained a bond from an insurance provider, similar to a standard policy. This bond protects the homeowner if the contractor fails to complete the agreed-upon project.