Mark Moore Construction

Tips for finding the

right contractor

The yellow pages are filled with the names of contractors and builders, and everywhere you look it seems you see ads for more of them. How do you know how to choose the right contractor? Here is our unbiased list of things things everyone should know when trying to make that important decision.

Listen to word of mouth

But don’t take just one word of mouth; the mouth you heard it from might not know a good job if it bit them on the butt. If you have someone in mind, talk to homeowners this contractor has done work for in the past. Were they satisfied with the work? Was the work finished? Did the contractor keep to the agreed-upon schedule? Did the contractor return phone calls?

Get at least 3 estimates

Different contractors can vary widely on pricing and level of detail even when bidding for the same job. Make sure and get several estimates on your project, especially if it’s a large project. As much as possible, make sure that you explain the job fully to each of the contractors to ensure each one bids on the same exact job so that you can compare the estimates “apples-to-apples”. Contractors spend a lot of time preparing estimates. The more popular contractors may offer free estimates if they get the job. Spend the money.

We've included a copy of an actual estimate for you to see the kind of detail a professional contractor should provide you. This is a pdf file. If you don't already have Adobe Reader, you can download it here.

Watch for "low Balling"

Now that you have three estimates, you will have three different prices. If the lowest price is 20% or more less than the middle price, watch out for this one. You probably aren’t getting what you think.

Make sure your contractor is properly insured

Ask your contractor for a copy of his proof of liability insurance and bonding, or the name and number of his/her insurance agent to call and verify proof of coverage.

Go to the courthouse

Contractors who have run into trouble in the past usually have judgments against them, and these are filed in the courthouse. If you can’t get to the courthouse, you may be able to do a little research online into your county’s public records.

Do you trust this person to work on your home?

When it comes down to it, the most important thing to check is your own gut feeling. How do you feel about this contractor working on what is probably your single largest investment – your home? Do you trust this person inside your home? Around your children? Can you communicate well with this person about the project? Are they ‘in tune’ to your needs?

Don't let this happen to you (picture of a house collapsed).

Okay. We're pulling your leg a little. It's not likely that any contractor will be so bad that your house falls down, but...

you should protect yourself against

fraud
poor workmanship
unnecessary expenses
unexplained delays and

Aggravation