Major home improvement projects can be scary. As a homeowner, once you sign the contract and begin the project, you are at the mercy of the contractor. Doing research on a company before doing business with them is essential. Its surprising how unethical some individuals and companies are and homeowners need to take certain steps to protect themselves.
Check License Numbers
A contractors license should be on everything- business cards, websites, proposals and contracts, advertising. If you dont see it, ask for it. Once you have it, check it. You can start at the Better Business Bureaus website www.BBB.com. Verify that the license is current and covers the specific work youre having done.
If the license number checks out, the company is legal to do business. It does not automatically mean that the company will do a good job.
Check The Company and Its Owners
Again, you can start at www.BBB.com to check some of the companys and owners history. Be cautious of a company that has only been in business a short time. Just because a company is young does not mean it will not do good work. It means it has less history for you to look at. You can, however, look at the owners track record. If you see that a person has had a string of unsuccessful businesses, watch out!
Note: Most companies, even very good ones, have had one or two complaints lodged against them. Some may not even be legitimate complaints. Beware of a company that has several complaints against them or that does not resolve them properly or in a timely fashion.
Check References
The best reference is from someone you know and trust. If you can take a look at the work they had done, even better. Another option is to ask the company for references. Companies often have a list of satisfied customers who have agreed to speak with potential customers.
Find out if the company finished the work on time and provided quality service and products. Was the customer given a schedule before the work began? If there were any changes, delays or complications, did the company let the customer know right away? Were the installers professional and respectful of the customers and the property? This is a big project for you, dont be afraid to ask!
Follow Your Instincts
Are you comfortable with the way the sales staff and office staff treat you? Are they overly aggressive? Do they answer your questions or do they try to dodge them? They do not need to be sugar sweet with you but a good company will treat you honestly and with respect. You will be working with this company and its employees not just throughout the project but also throughout the warranty period. If something goes wrong in the furture, do you trust them to honor the warranty and fix the problem?
Doing your research can help avoid bad experiences. Unfortunately, nothing can eliminate risk completely. The sad fact is that there are companies out there doing business unethically and illegally and think nothing of lying to get a sale. These hints will help you protect you and your family as much as possible as you improve your home.
http://www.MakeYourHomeEnergyEfficient.

See more: >>> Read more...