How to Know if Your Contractor is Worthy of a Referral

Your next-door neighbor asks, “who did you use to replace your windows?” and you hesitate. In the moment, you're thinking, do I put my name behind this contractor? It can be an awkward situation because when you refer to a company, you don't want anything negative to happen that could affect your relationship. Well, we’re here to help you judge your contractor’s worthiness.

Effective Communication

Excellent communication is the foundation of any successful remodeling project. Unfortunately, this industry has a reputation for poor or nonexistent communication. Because they’re hard to come by, when you work with a contractor that has exceptional communication, it’s worth telling others.

Key questions to ask yourself:

• Did you have a clear understanding of the project scope and timeline?

• Was there ever a time when you felt out of the loop?

• Did they communicate too much?

• Did they promptly attend to your needs/concerns?

Professionalism

When you invite a contractor into your home, you want a company whose employees will respect you and your property. Established organizations typically deliver a stronger business ethic and professional appearance.

Key questions to ask yourself:

• Did they deliver on their promises?

• Did the employees treat you respectfully?

• Did they take care of your property?

• Was their appearance neat and tidy?

Quality Workmanship

So, your contractor seems great. They’re organized, communicative and professional. But are they any good? And, how do you know?

Key questions to ask yourself?

• Did the installation crews have experience?

• Were they on time?

• Did they communicate well with each other and seem organized?

• Does the final product meet your expectations?

• Do they supply a warranty for their labor?

Timeliness

A referral-worthy contractor will provide you with and stick to a timeline for your project. Your project timeline should include an estimate of when the materials will arrive, an estimated start date and a completion date for your project.

Key questions to ask yourself?

• Did they use a project timeline?

• Did they complete the project within the timeline?

• Were there project delays?

Cleanliness

Job sites are messy, there’s no way around it. But an above-average contractor will ensure that the job site is clean and organized every single day.

Key questions to ask yourself?

• Did they keep the job site tidy?

• Did they clean up each day?

• Did they leave things better than they found them?

Value

Whether you chose to complete a remodeling project because you had to or because you wanted to, it all comes down to whether you feel the contractor was worth the money.

How to Share Your Experience with Family & Friends

A contractor is exceptional when they’ve met or exceeded your expectations in all 6 categories: communication, professionalism, quality, timeliness, cleanliness and value. You can help your friends and family avoid bad contractors (and choose exceptional ones) by telling them about your recent experience. Plus, when you share with others, you’re helping the most trustworthy businesses rise to the top.