How to Pick the Right Contractor For You
- Mike Cronin
- Jun 28, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 16, 2020
Choosing the right person to remodel your home can be a daunting task, here at MJC Construction, we try to make this decision as easy as possible for our customers. In this post we will give you our tips and pointers on how to pick a reliable contractor that you can trust with your home improvement project!
Trust Your Instincts
Our number one rule in choosing a contractor is to trust your gut. Trust your instincts in the beginning, and never settle for a contractor you aren't sure about.
Ask Questions
Asking potential contractors questions about different projects, fixture options, etc. will help you assess their expertise.
Some questions you could ask include:
"How long have you been in business?"
"What type of projects do you specialize in?"
"How much of the work do you do vs subcontract out?"
"What type of insulation would you recommend for ____?"
"What type of flooring will provide the greatest return on investment?"
"What is the most popular cabinet style?"
"Would it be more expensive to go with (item A) or (item B)?"
"What percentage of your customer base is repeat customers? What percentage comes from referrals?"
Some fundamental questions your contractor MUST be able to answer are:
"How long do you think this project would take?"
"Can you walk me through the different phases of this project?"
**If the contractor is not able to answer these two questions with relative ease, we would not recommend them.**
Look for the contractor to listen attentively to your questions and answer them thoroughly. Sometimes it's okay for a contractor to not have an answer to your question right away, but they should be more than willing to get you an answer! Asking questions will give you an accurate representation of the contractor's experience, and can help you determine if they are the best contractor for you.
In addition to asking your contractor questions, look for them to ask you questions about your vision for your project. If a contractor is going to be detail oriented in their work they will want to know specifics about your vision up front.
Check References
Like when you place an order on Amazon, read reviews! Google the company name, see if there are reviews - if not, ask for references! Any reliable, quality contractor will be able to provide you with at least 3 professional references. Call those references, see what they have to say. When possible, make sure that you check at least one reference from over a year ago, and one from under 6 months ago. Checking references from multiple time periods ensures consistency in results - attributable to consistent leadership.
Some questions to ask homeowner references include:
“What type of project did (Contractor’s name) complete for you?”
"How many projects has (Contractor's name) completed for you?"
“Did they seem knowledgeable and experienced with (type of project)?”
“Did your project run over budget?”
“How long did (Contractor’s name) say your project would take?”
“Did your project take as long, or longer, than (Contractor’s name) estimated?” (If so, ask why)
“Were you happy with the finished result?”
"Have you referred any of your family members or friends to (Contractor's name)?"
Some questions to ask subcontractor references:
“How long have you worked with (Contractor’s name)?”
“Has (Contractor’s name) ever performed work on your home?”
“How would you describe (Contractor’s name)’s attention to detail?”
“How would you describe (Contractor’s name)’s quality of work?”
Don't be afraid to ask your friends and family which contractor completed their home improvement projects! Ask those you trust for a recommendation!
Cautions About Pricing
We know that no one wants to overpay for goods and services, but be cautious when receiving pricing. If you receive three estimates that are about the same, and a fourth that is significantly lower, we would caution you to be weary of the fourth contractor.
We also hear about jobs running over budget rather frequently. Be sure to ask questions about fixture allowances (the pricing the contractor has set aside for your chosen fixtures). To ensure you don’t run over budget, try to provide your contractor as many details as you can about your product choices for reference during the proposal process.
Check the Home Improvement Commission
Every licensed contractor in the State of Maryland has an "MHIC" number. If the contractor doesn't provide you with that number, you can search them by business name, personal name, location, etc. using this link https://www.dllr.state.md.us/cgi-bin/ElectronicLicensing/OP_search/OP_search.cgi?calling_app=HIC::HIC_qselect
In addition, when a contract is made, it must contain the contractor's personal name, address and MHIC license number.
Ask A Licensed Professional
If you have a trusted plumber, electrician, HVAC technician, or any other related construction professional - ask them for a recommendation. Chances are, your HVAC technician has worked with hundreds of general contractors, meaning they know which ones do the best work. Choosing a general contractor that your trusted plumber recommends, also generally ensures that your plumber is subcontracted on your project.
Here at MJC Construction, Inc. we have a select few trusted subcontractors we use. Our President, Mike, calls them for our job-sites as well as work on his own personal home - the opposite is also true; many of our subcontractors also call us to do work on their personal homes. We obtain quite a few referrals from our subcontractors, who recommend us to their family and friends.
Check Their Website
This step is not as integral as the previously listed, because it’s not all around uncommon for contractors and construction companies to not have websites. MJC Construction, Inc. had been around for over 25 years, before ever even thinking about getting a website! If your contractor does have a website, look for real photos of their previous work. If your contractor does not have a website, ask them for pictures of some previous projects they have completed! Any reputable contractor will be able to send you pictures of their work! Looking at photos will help you get an idea of the contractor’s attention to detail and their quality of work.
While we did not intend to provide an exhaustive list, we do hope that this list helps you find the perfect contractor for you! We are confident that trusting your gut, and prioritizing your comfort will ultimately give you the best results. Once you pick the perfect contractor, you will be able to go back to them for all of your future home improvement needs! (Most of our clients are repeat customers!)
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