Questions to Ask Contractors
In order to make a sound choice, there are some key questions you should pose to potential contractors.
- Is the contractor in good standings with the Better Business Bureau?
- Are they a member of an association that holds members to high standards?
- How many years of experience do they have working as a contractor in Central Texas?
- Are they licensed? If so, ask to see the license.
- Are they insured? What type of insurance do they have and what and how much does it cover. Ask for a certificate of insurance. You don’t want to be liable for accidents that occur on your property.
- Who will supervise the project? How much experience do they have with the activity they will be managing? How can you contact the project supervisor?
- Where is the company’s local and/or main office located? Check out the address.
- What is the warranty on labor? What is the manufacturer’s warranty? Get warranty information in writing.
- Do they have customer references? Credit references? Call to verify.
- Will they give you a detailed written proposal with start and completion dates, and payment schedule?
- Ask for a list of suppliers and associated contact information. Check if the contractor is in good standing with the supplier.
- Are they certified to install any manufacturer’s product?
- Is the contractor registered with the City of West?
- Has the contractor obtained the appropriate municipal permits?
- Is the contractor asking for money upfront? If so, is it just for materials after delivered to the project location?
- Is their bid significantly lower than other bids? If so, ask why? Be careful to not pay more later by hiring a contractor that performs substandard work, is potentially using stolen materials, is uninsured, and potentially leaves the area as soon as the work is done.
