Spring is one of the busiest times of year for contractors and remodelers. As Spring gets closer and the days get longer and warmer, many of our clients start to think seriously about the changes and improvements they’ve dreamed of making to their homes. However, one of the most important parts of renovating and remodeling a home–and one that is sometimes overlooked–is finding the right contractor for the job. Many unlicensed or predatory companies and individuals know that Spring is a busy time for the construction industry, and will try to take advantage of homeowners looking to hire someone to help them make their dreams a reality. Before you sign on with a contractor, make sure to do your research to make sure you’re protected.
When searching for a contractor or remodeling company to help you with your home renovations, it’s important to check whether or not the company is properly licensed and insured. All businesses and individuals performing construction work over $30,000 in North Carolina must be licensed with the North Carolina Licensing Board of General Contractors in order to operate legally. To check whether or not a company or person is licensed, you can visit www.NCLBGC.org, and use the “Search” function to look them up by company or individual name. Also, be sure to ask for proof of insurance before signing on with any contractor. If they’re properly insured, they will be able to provide paperwork to prove it.
After you’ve made sure your potential contractor or remodeler is properly insured and licensed, you should also do some research into their business reputation. Many contractors have some kind of online presence, including reviews or complaints on the Better Business Bureau, Yelp!, Angie’s List, or Google Business. Many reviewers will also post pictures of the contractor’s previous work. When checking out reviews, keep an eye out for contractors that respond to negative reviews, and what kind of response they gave. Did they try to work with their customer and find a solution? Did they give a dismissive answer, or not respond at all? You should always prefer to work with contractors that value their customers, and good contractors will respond to both their positive and negative reviews. As for the BBB, you may want to think twice about any company with a rating less than “A.”
When discussing the scope of the work with a potential contractor, take the time to ask them if they have a website. Many contractors do, and they will often include examples of their work, testimonials from previous clients, and further information about themselves, their company, and their mission. Also be sure to ask how long the contractor or company has been in business; while newer contractors aren’t necessarily bad, a company that’s been in business for ten or more years indicates a company that has been able to stick around due to quality work. If the contractor doesn’t have their own website–which is getting rarer these days–ask if they have any pictures or examples of their work they can provide.
When looking for a quality contractor to help you realize the changes and improvements you’ve dreamed about making to your home this Spring, always research the company you’ll be working with beforehand. You, as a homeowner, deserve the absolute best when signing on with a contractor, and should do everything you can to make sure you’re protected against scammers and sub-par craftsmanship. We at Custom Construction and Renovations, Inc. take pride in our work, our reputation, and our wonderful client base, so feel free to call us with any questions.
Good luck with all of your projects this coming Spring!