Finding the Right Contractor

Finding the “right” contractor is tough…. and that is an understatement.

I recently had a personal experience where I was told I needed a large (and expensive) home update from a contractor — his reasoning for my need: safety. Being that we have children, of course that shot up to the top of our priority list. On top of that, the guy seemed nice, trustworthy and my happy-go-lucky personality didn’t think twice about this costly recommendation. Luckily I received some wisdom to verify this information with other contractors and additional bids. Sure enough, after confirming with 3 other reliable contractors, we didn’t need what this first contractor told us we needed.

There are good ones out there, they do exist, but I’ll share a few tips on how to weed out the not-so-good ones in order to find the “right” one:

1. Do your homework. There are so many reliable sources out there for reviews—check them all! Check the mainstream ones (Google, Yelp, etc.) and check the verified sites, too (BBB, Angie’s List, Home Adviser, etc.). Then, when you are done with those, check with your neighbors and other social sites (Next Door, Facebook, etc.). We always tell our customers: a good word goes a long way, because frankly, what’s stopping someone from sharing a bad word?

2. Get multiple bids. We always encourage this, even if we are there giving a bid. It’s in your best interest to get multiple pricing breakdowns and to see varying verbiage in the different bids. Most businesses break things down differently, so don’t hesitate to ask a contractor why their bid doesn’t include what the other bids do, or even just to better understand what these professionals are telling you you “need.” Getting bids takes time and feels like work, but it’s more than worth it and is probably going to be the best way to weed out who you don’t want.

3. Ask questions. Piggybacking off of #2—research the information you receive and then ask questions, lots of questions. This is a good way to educate yourself on what you’re about to pay someone to do, and frankly, it’s a good way to see if a contractor will have patience for you when the real work starts.

We pride ourselves on running an honest business, giving genuine feedback and caring about the person rather than the job. Of course I will tell you that though, so do your homework on us, too. Perdue Builders specializes in residential re-siding of houses, but we can also change up your windows and doors, update your deck and more.

Call us for a free estimate today!