The Do’s and Don’ts of Hiring a ServiceWhale Contractor

When you are preparing to hire a contractor to do work on your home, you want to make sure you choose the right person for the job. No doubt your friends and neighbors have told you countless horror stories about their experiences with having a “professional” fix their air conditioning or repair a roof, only to realize they were ripped off. Here are some dos and don’ts of hiring a contractor to make sure your home renovation project doesn’t become a horror story, too.

DO Figure Out Exactly What You Need

When you first get estimates from contractors on ServiceWhale, you may experience two points of confusion: a wide range of prices, or estimates that are much higher than you imagined. Usually, this can be cleared up with a single tactic: figuring out just what it is you need. For instance, a roofing job may be just replacing a few shingles, or it may be installing a completely new roof. When you choose a contractor, let them know exactly what work needs to be done.

You should also figure out what materials you want used for the job. Most contractors have a specific brand they use for each material, which may or may not be what you want. Indicating what types of nails, paint, lumber or other supplies you want used could help you find the perfect contractor for the job.

DON’T Assume You Know Everything

If you are like most home owners, chances are you know a little bit about taking care of your home — at least on the basic level. But for big projects, the ones where you need a contractor, they will most likely be more knowledgeable than you. Watching home improvement shows makes you no more of an expert than watching doctor shows on reality TV gives you the ability to perform heart surgery. And that’s ok. However, ServiceWhale contractors on average, have 20+ years of experience.

This does not mean you can’t give input. Make sure your contactor from ServiceWhale understands exactly what you need. If your contractor puts up drywall in a different way than the guys on television, feel ask them about their process, but trust them to do good work. They are insured and certified to get the job done.

DO Hire a Trusted Contractor

When it comes to contractors, the majority of horror stories stem from shoddy work being done and the crew taking off before the situation could be rectified. To top it off, they had likely already gotten paid by the time they disappeared, making for a very costly home renovation. In the end, the victim of that scam likely swore to never let a contractor into their home again.

The easiest way to avoid this situation is to only hire trusted contractors. They will have a sterling reputation and all the appropriate certifications, insurance and permits. Instead of doing all this legwork on your own, trust ServiceWhale to find the perfect contractor for you. Click here to get upfront, honest quotes from only the most reputable contractors in your area, all without an initial home visit.