Finding A Trusted Contractor

Earlier this month, I was called in to a home in Durham to provide an estimate for sealing a crawlspace. I was surprised when I found that the crawlspace showed signs of having been recently worked on.

When I asked the homeowner about it, I was told that I was the second contractor they’d brought in to do the job and the first contractor hadn’t performed the work to the quality they’d hoped for. Unfortunately, this kind of story is becoming a more common occurrence. 

There are a lot of great resources that homeowners have available to them to find a great contractor (the local Better Business Bureau, the North Carolina licensing board, and even third party review sites like AngiesList.com). 

The basic three question you need to ask to consider any contractor are:

1. Is your contractor is licensed?
2. Is your contractor experienced in the specific task they're performing for your home? (Just because they're expert pest controllers doesn't mean they can seal your crawl space properly.)
3. Does your contractor have great references from previous customers (and ideally customers you know personally)?

If you've done all that, and you're still left choosing between two well-qualified contractors, how do you decide? Price is one way, although that can be difficult as the less expensive option doesn't always mean the best value. 

My ultimate advice is simply this: Which contractor do you trust and feel most comfortable working with? Your home is your most valuable asset and your place of residence. It's where your kids sleep, you store your valuables, and your feel like the king or queen of your castle. If you're uncomfortable with the person or company who you're going to let into your personal space, consider if you should consider searching for a better fit. Trust your gut.