Hiring a construction contractor is not easy. Perform a local online search, scour through the phone book or the newspaper ads, and you will soon find yourself juggling different options. What makes it even more difficult is that all contractors hardly seem to differ in their advertised services.

If there is to be some ground of distinction, if any, then what should it be?

How to find a construction contractor who will work on the project that you assign to him, with complete professionalism and honesty?

To address your concerns and help you find a reliable contractor, here are few tips.

Tip #1: Ask for personal recommendations

This tip should serve to be your starting point. Ask friends and family and other people in your social circle who may have had hired a contractor for a similar construction project in past. If they were satisfied with the results, chances are, you will be, too. Still you need to do your due diligence and perform all necessary checks before giving the recommended contractor the signal to go ahead.

Tip #2: Run a license check

In extension to the concluding note of our previous tip, always run a license check for every candidate you shortlist. Don’t fall for what is stated on a contractor’s website. License can be revoked and contractors may get suspended.

Tip #3: Request quotes from multiple contractors

Get at least three bids, in writing, for your project. Understand the reasoning behind the provisioned estimates. Lowest quotes are not always the best. Rather, focus on a bid that makes most financial sense, both for you and your contractor.

Tip #4: Verify that the contractor has provided legitimate physical address

Pay a visit to the offices of shortlisted contractors. You don’t want to be working with someone who operates his business from a pickup truck or a temporary location. Such contractors can be hard to re-locate in the event a job may need fixing, post payment.

Tip #5: Make sure the contractor is insured

Construction projects carry risks to property and lives by their very nature. Instances of workers getting injured on a construction site or a property receiving damage are all too common. You don’t want the liability cost to shift to you.

Tip #6: Study the contractor’s work portfolio

Lastly, ask the contractor to provide you with their work portfolio details. Study the portfolio to get a better idea of the contractor’s expertise and experience in the particular scope of work that you want to hire him for.

Follow these tips and you can maximize your chances of hiring a reliable and trustworthy construction contractor.

Do you have a construction project that you would like to discuss? Feel free to reach out.