Information you should know before you hire a Contractor
- Are you in business and how long have you been in business ?
- Do you have a G.S.T. Number ?
- Do you have a Contract ?
- Are you licensed, and may I see a copy of your license ?
Before you hire a contractor
BUYER BEWARE
* Are you in business and how long have you been in business
* Do you have a G.S.T. Number
* Do you have a Contract
* Are you licensed, and may I see a copy of your license
* Are you insured and may I see a copy of your Insurance Certificate
* Are your trades licensed and are they insured
* Will you provide a written estimate, and guarantee your price
* What is included or not included in your price
* Will you provide written warranty for your work
* Can you provide customer references
* Can we see you work
A reputable contractor should be able to provide you with all of the above. Unfortunately I see on a regular basis, examples of substandard and even dangerous workmanship & in most cases the work was done by "a guy" or "the lowest price".
In most cases the customer ends up spending more to repair the damage done by "the lowest bidder" than they would have spent with a reputable contractor in the first place.
Unfortunately, shoddy/dangerous or illegal workmanship may not surface for weeks or sometimes months after your project is finished, & by that time your contractor is gone. Will the "guy" or "the lowest price" honor the warranty, especially if all you have to reach them with is a cell phone number?
The work should be done right the first time!
It's your money, spend it wisely!!