Everyone has heard frightening tales about contractors who take longer than expected to finish a project or go far beyond the original budget. In order to make sure those tales stay as horror stories you hear at parties and not lived experiences, you should research contractors before working with them. If you’re working with a bad contractor, they will most likely have one or more of the following red flags.
They lack experience
Before hiring a contractor, you should ask for references or project samples. Often, these samples and references should be readily available on their website or in their marketing materials. If they can’t provide you with work samples, take that as a red flag and find someone else.
They don’t have good reviews
Even if a contractor gives you references and work samples, it’s a good idea to do some research of your own. The references and samples from the contractors themselves will be biased towards their services, but in the era of the internet, you can get a more honest picture of their past projects.
Before hiring a contractor, find reliable online reviews. This can easily be done with a Google search on their company, but some good sources to look out for when researching are:
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The Better Business Bureau
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Angie’s List
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HomeAdvisor
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Porch
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Yelp
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Thumbtack
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Google reviews
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The reviews on their Facebook page
They don’t like written agreements
Like with any reputable business arrangement, a contractor should be willing to sign a written agreement before they get to work. If they refuse to sign an agreement, it gives the contractor more grounds to raise the rates or prolong how long the work will take.
An even bigger red flag is if they refuse to communicate in writing at all. If a contractor always wants to talk on the phone or in person and refuses to write down what you are discussing for the project, this could be a bad sign. Without a clearly communicated and documented agreement, you are at the mercy of the contractor once the project has started.
Their rates are lower than others
Let’s say you’re researching different contractors and one gives you a quote that’s half your budget and far lower than everyone else’s quotes. If their rates seem too good to be true, they probably are.
A lower rate could mean a couple different things. That contractor could be skimping on worthwhile investments in their business, such as carrying insurance or purchasing the newest and safest construction equipment. They could also make up the difference by prolonging the project, increasing the project rates once the project has started, or skipping town before the project is done right.
They don’t give you a clear timeline for the project
Contractors decide when, where, and how they work, but they should be upfront with you about what their schedule is for your project. Contractors are often working on many projects at once and if a bigger contract comes along, a bad contractor will prioritize the bigger paycheck. A good contractor will work with you to make sure they still meet the deadlines on your project, even if they take on a more lucrative project at the same time.
While it can be hard to know how a contractor manages projects and if they meet their deadlines before working with them, there are a few tell-tale signs they won’t stay on track to finish the project in time. If they don’t like answering questions directly, seem unenthusiastic about the job, or are hard to get in touch with, you might be dealing with an overcommitted contractor.
At the end of the day, a good contractor will be upfront, easy to communicate, and good at juggling multiple projects. You should always do your own research to make sure your contractor is one you want to work with–and a good contractor will encourage you to do this research!
Carlton Building Services in Hampton Roads Virginia
Carlton Building Services specializes in repairs, maintenance, renovations, remodelings and build-outs for a variety of clients in Hampton Roads, Virginia. We have years of experience handling projects in the retail, office, and healthcare space and would love to work with you on your next project!
To learn more about our services, check out past project highlights or contact Carlton Building Services to see how we can help with your next project.
