Top 5 Tips For Working With A Contractor

Hiring a contractor is a luxury that relieves your shoulder of the burden to build it yourself

. However, to get the job done right and arrive at a fair and equitable rate, be sure you are dealing with professionals and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself against fraud and poor workmanship.

1. Licensing.

Before you hire that contractor, be sure his license is valid to work in your state and he is working within the expiration date. You may conveniently verify the contractor's license online by entering the number on the website for the contractor licensing board for your state. Your online query is quick and anonymous and will save you time and money to weed out the unqualified contractors for your job.

2. Communication.

It is essential to communicate effectively with your contractor to ensure you share the same concept and vision for the project. If you are able to draw your specifications or can present a photograph, a picture is worth a thousand words and will serve you well. In addition, be sure to make clear the materials, size, color and placement of the task at hand and follow your contractor's progress to the end of the project.

3. Everything In Writing.

No matter how gregarious your contractor seems to be, there is always room for misunderstandings and sloppy workmanship at the end of the day. To protect yourself from below par work ethics or a having to pay for unfinished work, be sure to get a guarantee of services and a total budget dollar amount attached to the estimate. In some unfortunate cases, when the work order is not made clear, a property owner may be saddled with an unreasonable bill after the contractor has walked away. Even if you refuse to pay, he can and will collect the money through a mechanic's lien, so be sure you are on the same page when it comes to payment.

4. Mechanic's Lien.

When a contractor takes on a job and a financial dispute should arise, the contractor may file a mechanic's lien against the property to secure his payment. Contractors may present a preliminary notice to the home owner if he wishes to retain his mechanic's lien rights, so don't be offended or dismayed by the documents. This is a normal course of business and also alerts you to the professional approach that your contractor is taking to building or repairing your property.

5. References.

To put your mind at ease when hiring a new contractor, you may wish to check the Internet for blogs and forums that express consumer complaints and compliments. Sites such as Angie's List lend valuable consumer input from homeowners just like you, and can shed some light on contractor work ethics, efficiency and fairness with their billing. In a world with so many consumer choices, you are one step ahead if you do a little research on your contractor company and read what other people are saying about it. And if you find a terrific contracting company to do business with, be sure to share it with others and give it a favorable review of your own.

by: Joe Cline

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