Finding good
craftsmen and contractors is hard work. There are many facets to consider
when hiring someone.
Reliability,
quality work, prices, deadlines, just to name a few. You want to also
have a good “fit” when hiring someone. The easiest way to ensure you get
exactly what you want is to meet your contractor half way. Be a good
customer! Here is a list of items we always appreciate;
1) If you are
inviting multiple companies to quote on the work to carry out;
A) Be sure of
what you want. Feel free to write down everything little thing you want
carried out during the course of the project. There is no such thing as
too many details!
B) Ensure
you are comparing apples to apples when you receive your quotes back. Did
you change your expectations between contractor A and contractor B?
Remember that your contractor is bidding on what you told him during your
meeting. If anything has changed, let them know! They will be more
than happy to change their quote accordingly.
C) It is YOUR responsibility to advise all
the contractors that you had in that they did not get the job. Your
contractor has booked a spot for you in anticipation of working with you.
They cannot hold your spot forever and need to know whether you are proceeding
or not.
D) If you
have awarded a job to someone, let them know immediately. Small companies
rely on steady work to feed their families. If you wait too long, your
space may be given to someone else.
2) Give them time
to quote. If you expect a competitive
quote, then give them time to work on it.
"Ballpark" quoting can work against you, and your
contractor. Allow us to see the space,
investigate what you need and the proper time to quote you. This will work in your favour when there are
no surprises, down the line.
3) Value your
contractor's time. They are, in most
cases, providing a free quotation. But,
their time is valuable. While it may
only take them an hour to assess your property, there will be multiple hours
spent on your quote, from sourcing materials to verifying pricing to admin
work. Calling in multiple contractors
(3-4 is ample for comparison purposes) is wasting time that can be better spent
elsewhere,
4) You MUST
tell your contractor exactly what you expect from them. A good contractor
will welcome your comments and input.
5) Never
choose a contractor based solely on their price and do not hesitate to ask them
to justify their pricing. If contractor A bids $ 5000 and contractor B
bids $ 8500, ask them why! They may offer superior quality, a cleaner
working environment, superior materials or a more aggressive schedule.
Just ask!
6) If you are
unhappy with the contractor – tell him! Give them a chance to rectify the
situation. If they refuse to make the necessary corrections, then you
have the right to complain. If you don’t speak up, you don’t. You
have spent a lot of money and deserve to have it done right. A concerned,
proud contractor will make it right but they can’t if you don’t tell them.
7) Play
fair. Changing the scope of work part way through the project? The
price, the schedule and the accessibility of your space maybe impacted. Be
prepared.
Establish a solid,
working relationship with your contractor. Communicate and don’t be
afraid to ask questions, we welcome them.
8) Sign a
contract. Can't stress this enough. Protects both your family and the
contractor. Word of mouth is wonderful
until something goes wrong. Please sign a contract.
9) Enjoy the
process! They want to respond to your needs. They want you to be happy. They want to please you. Relax and enjoy the
process.
