How to Hire a Reputable Home Improvement Contractor
Experience: Home improvement customers coming back time after time and referring others is a good indication of quality work and experience. Find out how many projects like yours the Kansas City home improvement contractor completed last year. Also, find out how long their workers have been on the job.
Guarantees: Ask potential home improvement contractors about their guarantees on both labor and home improvement materials, and verify what they cover, how long they last, and how quickly they will fix anything that goes wrong.
Everything in Writing: Ask for written proof of the following to cover worker injuries, property damage, installed and uninstalled materials:
- Written contract to protect you against litigation
- Contractor’s license (Johnson County Only)
- Worker’s compensation insurance
- General liability coverage of at least $1 million, and a "completed operations" rider
- Lien waiver to ensure you don’t pay twice
- Certificates of insurance from w/c, liab, completed opps
Also be sure to ask if the company has been a party to any construction-related litigation within the past five years.
Supervision and Quality Control: In addition to the home renovation site foreman, make sure the company you select provides staff supervisors who spend significant time at your job site. At the completion of the project, the company should send quality control inspectors to ensure consistency and excellence.
Customer Service: A home improvement business should have a customer service staff you can easily reach. A reputable company will maintain a permanent mailing address, email address, fax number and voice-messaging system.
Protection: Find out how your home will be protected during the project. Make sure the company will clean up after the job, and get details about how that will be accomplished.
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References: References are the best way to ensure a home improvement company will perform according to contract specifications.
Associations and Certifications: Trade organizations help to keep their members informed about new products, construction techniques, business practices and industry issues. Participation demonstrates professionalism. Check the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List for additional information.
Community Service: Find out what your home improvement company does to give back to the Kansas City community. A company with a policy of corporate giving is likely to treat you fairly.
