Sometimes, you need a contractor for a home improvement project. However, it’s often difficult to find one when you aren’t sure where to turn. There are so many contractors on the market. How do you narrow the list? What red flags should you look for when hiring a contractor? Learn more here.
A Huge Downpayment
No one should expect your contractor to work for free. An exchange must take place. However, you should give them a sideways glance if they ask for a large downpayment before they start working. It’s normal for contractors to ask for an advance to prepare for the work ahead, but it’s not normal for them to ask you for nearly the total amount right out the gate. You should also check local laws because there may be a downpayment cap. If someone attempts to exceed that cap, hire someone else. Generally, you should only pay 10-25 percent of the total project cost upfront.
A Vague Contract
We recommend you read your contract thoroughly as a major tip for choosing a professional contractor for your roof or any residential project. The contract that your contractor presents to you should be so detailed you need to get your reading glasses to read it. You should think twice if a contract lacks specifics and clear language. Your contract should establish payment schedules, homeowner and contractor responsibilities, the scope of the project and work, and stop and start times for each day. You should know what equipment and materials they plan to use and what subcontractors are on the docket. The last thing you want is to make assumptions about what you signed up for—which is a key red flag you should look out for when hiring a contractor.
No Reviews or Mostly Bad Ones
It’s important not to throw a prospect away because they have one bad review. However, you should also look at how many bad reviews there are on Yelp, Google, or the Better Business Bureau. If the majority of the reviews are negative, move on. However, if there are only one or two out of hundreds, check the nature of those one-to-three-star reviews and see if you want to take the plunge.
Not having any reviews is a key indicator that they’ve wiped their site since no contractor or business owner in their right mind would pull recommendations from their site or social media pages. If they don’t have any reviews, they’re either so bad that they can’t afford to put reviews on their site, or they’re so new you might want to consider someone more experienced.
Overall, these are just a few things you need to consider when looking for a contractor to help you with home improvement projects. If you take these tips to heart, we know you can find the best contractor for you.
