Hiring a contractor can feel overwhelming. But there is just ONE question you need to ask yourself when hiring your next contractor…
What do my family and I value?
- Answering this question honestly is the key. In my opinion the answer should be what drives the majority, if not all, of the decision-making process.
- What Do You Value? Is it communication, a comfort level, written contracts, employees or subcontractors, owner-operator vs. a company that has a dedicated office staff, years of experience, warranties, cleanliness, adequate insurance, reviews, performing work on the side, insurance, the list goes on and on… What you value as important may be completely different then what your neighbor’s value.
- Notice how I said nothing about price. If you can answer this one question, the price, will fall into line.
TWO EXAMPLES OF VALUE:
Type Of Contractor
|
Potential Outcome |
What You Value
|
- Owner-operator
- Plenty of experience
- Usually no written policies or procedures
- Communication unintentionally not a high priority
|
- Work will most likely be completed nights and weekends
- Communication may be slow
- Work may be okay
- Corners may be cut due to lower price or speed
|
- Owner has to be performing the work
- Work has to be decent
- Project has to be completed quickly
|
- Company with employees
- Office staff
- Written warranty
- Quality reviews
- Proven procedures and policies
|
- Communication will be quick and thorough
- Work completed in a timely manner
- Follow up calls made to assure quality of work and satisfaction were achieved
|
- Good communication
- Employees, not subcontractors
- Quality work
- Written contracts
- Comfortable with the team chosen
- Adequate Insurance
|
There are exception to every rule but understanding what you VALUE brings you to ask the contractor the RIGHT questions, because, you see, hiring the right contractor is about what you need.