Finding the Right Contractor
When you are looking to get a new roof, or any project done in your home, you will begin by hiring a contractor to make your visions come to life. In order to make sure it is completed to your liking and is up to standard, it is important to research the contractors in your area. If you don’t, you could end up having a headache of an experience rather than one that goes smooth. But with a little planning and exploration, finding the perfect contractor can be easy. Here are 7 ways to help you find the right contractor for your project.
Be Confident
When starting your search for hiring a contractor, it is important that you come off as confident. Make sure you are asking any and all questions you have. This is the time to get to know your contractor and make sure they have what it takes to make your proposal go from paper to reality. Remember, you’re the boss, so don’t hesitate to do what’s best for your needs.
Build Trust
It is crucial to remember that your contractor wants what’s best for you. If they give you suggestions on the project that is different from what you had imagined, be open-minded and listen to what they have to say as they have experience in the field. They might have advice on a different type of product to use or a different strategy on how to go about the project that you hadn’t known about, so trust that while you should be involved in the decision making as much as possible, they know what they are doing and have your best interests in mind.
Research
After gathering a list of reputable contractors in your area, make sure you gather photos of their previous projects. You never want to go with a company that cannot provide that many examples of their work. It is important that you see what they can accomplish and see if it matches your ideals. Along with the pictures, ask them for the contacts of 5-10 previous customers from the past year. This might seem a little strange, but it is helpful because you can gather information about how their projects went and if there were any complications. If there were any problems, you can ask them how that company handled the issue. Be sure to address this with the company though because it’s always best to get both sides of the story. Also make sure to look up reviews on different websites of the company to see what others have to say. A few good websites (aside from Google) to check out are the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Manta. If you can’t get a lot of information from a company, it is probably in your best interest to not work with them as they might not be legit. Always make sure there is a proper telephone number, address, and a good amount of reviews. If you are still unsure if they are the real deal or not, you can always find out more information at the proper licensing department for the type of contractor. You can also contact the licensing department to gather more intel on previous experiences with the company.
Understand the Documents
Paperwork can be very stressful and time consuming to go through. While every section is important to at least skim over, there are some three that you must read and make sure is included in the documents: Insurance, Licenses and Certifications, and Warranties.
Insurance - There are two types of insurance that your contractor must have: General Liability and Worker’s Compensation insurance. General Liability insurance makes sure that if the contractor damages your home or property that they will be held responsible for the financials, and Worker’s Compensation insurance ensures that if the contractor or a member of his team gets injured during the job that you won’t have to pay for it. Make sure to get proof of both types of insurance, otherwise you risk ending up in financial disaster. Don’t accept the contractor if they have only one of those types or anything less. It is not worth the risk if anything were to go wrong.
Licenses and Certifications - Depending on the state, ever business is required to have a business license. Don’t be fooled though, as a business license is not the same as a contractor license. A business license simply means that that company is paying their taxes, while a contractor license means that the contractor has passed a written exam in their field of work. A qualified contractor should have both types of licenses, and should have also completed a few certification programs. There are several credential programs a contractor can do, and these programs allow a contractor to do education-based training on doing proper installation, having and maintaining the necessary licenses and insurance, and having enough experience working with the materials needed in their field. For example, CRS Roofing LLC is certified by CertainTeed to do roofing/siding installations. CertainTeed has a 5-Star Contractor Program that roofer’s can complete to show that they have the qualifications needed to do a good roofing job. To get this certification, a company must complete and pass a rigorous Master Craftsman Program and do a full day of in person training with a qualified industry expert. They must also continue education on product installation, sustainable building, and business best practice, get an accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, and provide proof of General Liability and Worker’s Compensation insurance. You can use certification programs like these to help find a contractor who shares your values, such as sustainability programs.
Warranties - There are two different types of warranties: workmanship warranty and manufacturer’s warranty. A workmanship warranty is provided by your contractor and typically covers a minimum of 1 year. A manufacturer’s warranty is provided by whoever produces the materials your contractor gets (for CRS, our manufacturer’s warranty is through CertainTeed since they manufacture the shingle’s we use). Manufacturer’s warranties typically last a lot longer. At CertainTeed, there are 3, 4, and 5 star warranties. The 3 star warranty covers 20 years while the 4 and 5 cover up to 50. Make sure to ask for a copy of the manufacturer’s warranty and review it, as some might not cover a roof if it is improperly installed. Try to go for a contractor who offers a decent workmanship warranty on-top of the manufacturer’s warranty so that way incase it is improperly installed or there is another issue that isn’t covered by the manufacturer’s warranty you have a good amount of coverage.
Don’t Sign Right Away
While it might be tempting to go with the first contractor you got to know, don’t sign anything until you are sure you understand the proposal and have reviewed a few of them. Also, make sure the proposal is an actual proposal and not just an estimate. An estimate is just a general description of the project to be done while the proposal is much more detailed. A proposal is much less likely to change in price as compared to an estimate, since an estimate is just an approximate. The proposal is where you’ll see what options you have, such as: brand, color, price, performance, etc. If you are unsure of the options that the contractor originally shows you, you can always ask to see their other options as most will have more (they just don’t show them all to you upfront as it can be overwhelming and the pricing of them can scare away the customer). Just ask the contractor to include a separate pricing list for any possible upgrades so that way you can make a more informed decision. There might be something that you love that the contractor hadn’t originally included, so it is always worth it to ask. Lastly, be wary of bids that seem too good to be true! If it is way below the pricing of all the other contractors it is most likely not going to be the best option, as shortcuts and lesser quality materials will probably be used. The contractor might also be using a low price to hide the fact that they do not have the correct qualifications and credentials, so be sure to check your options and keep in mind that cheaper is not always better!
Read the Contract Carefully
When you do decide on a contractor you are going to want to carefully read all of it. If the wording is confusing and you aren’t fully understanding it, talk to your contractor. Now is the time to ask questions, and no question isn’t worth asking. Here are some important things that you should be able to find in the contract:
Who’s doing the job?
While it might seem like your contractor is going to be the one who completes the job, be aware that they might hire subcontractors to do the actual work. This isn’t a bad thing, though, as long as the contractor who you hired is closely managing the subcontractor’s team.
Are permit costs included?
Who obtains the permits? Is it you or the contractor? Have the inspections or provisions for posting zoning notices been planned and completed? These are all important to know since they are necessary to make sure your project is in compliance with the city.
Is it clear what products will be used?
Is the specific material listed in the contract? If you choose a specific color and product, make sure that the color, name of the product, and a reference to the manufacturer’s warranty is included in the contract and that the contract states the materials will be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
When is the projected finish date?
While factors like the weather can derail the projected finish date, it is still a good idea to include a “no-later-than” clause.
Is there a right to rescind?
Most contracts allow you to cancel within three days upon creation without a penalty.
What are the workmanship warranty terms?
This information should be clearly stated in the contract. If you cannot find it, make sure the contractor adds it in.
Who cleans up the mess?
Nobody wants a messy area for their project. Does the contract mention if there is daily cleanup of the worksite? Does the contract mention information of a dumpster or a dump trailer? Make sure there is a proper disposal clause in the contract so that way you aren’t left with a big mess.
What about potential damages?
Before construction begins, walk around the job site with the contractor to determine the condition of the site. In some cases damage can be unavoidable, but it is still important to include a clause about what is and isn’t reasonable.
Don’t Overpay
When signing on with a contractor, be sure you are not paying over 50% of the cost before the completion of the project. If you do and for some reason or another you and the contractor stop working together the process of getting some of that money back is going to be a headache. See if they have any payment plans available if you cannot afford to pay as much as they are asking upfront. Also, never pay with cash! Always leave a paper trail that can show both parties money paid and money owed for the project so there is never any confusion. Try not to be late with payments either, especially before the contractor is finished with their job, as this could cause them to walk away leaving the project unfinished and it can be hard to find a new contractor to finish their work.
