Insurance

Hiring The Right Contractor

contractor insuranceWhen seeking contractors it is vital to ensure you research all prospective hires. The crew working a project can make or break the success of a project and some projects may require specific types of contractors that specialize in the field.

Your client’s satisfaction relies largely on the competency of your staff. When hiring, there are several factors you need to consider.

Training & Certification

The education and training someone receives gives you a basic understanding of their skill sets. Find a contractor who has the proper training in order to complete the job. If you don’t, you may face sub par work and a very unhappy client. Ask them to provide proof of certification and double check if you have any hesitations. Certain projects may require specific certifications.

License

Hiring a licensed contractor like Chase Construction insures the work is being completed by a certified professional. Ask for a copy of their license and check the necessary authorities to ensure the license is current. A currently licensed contractor should be up-to-date on local codes and regulations.

Experience

Experience dictates ability. The more experience a contractor has the more likely they are to know how to fulfill a task without additional training. Ask the contractor to provide work history. This can include work under previous employers and independent projects they may have completed. Some may even be able to provide photographs of their completed work. Consultation experience can be just as important as hands on experience.

References

An experienced contractor should be able to provide references. Ask for names, phone numbers, and potentially web listings of their references. Sites such as Angie’s List and the Better Business Bureau are reliable sources of information. Other sources that may be helpful include consumer sites like Home Advisor and Yelp.

Rates

A contractor’s rates should be considered for more than just your bottom line. Compare prices of several contractors. If someone is charging much less than their peers, it is typically a sign of inexperience or ill repute. Ideally, you’ll seek a contractor who has competitive pricing with the experience to complete the task.

Insurance

All parties should be properly insured to match the nature of the goods or services they provide. On sites like Econtractorsinsurance.com, there are insurance options for everything from General Liability to Workmen’s Compensation, which makes it easier to make sure all of your vendors are properly insured.

Depending on the scope of the project, your contractors could place a mechanic’s lien for the value of their goods or services to ensure payment. Most states require a preliminary notice be sent before the lien may be placed. If a primary contractor fails to compensate a secondary contractor, it is ultimately the responsibility of the property owner, regardless of whether the owner paid the primary contractor. So a secondary contractor may still issue a mechanic’s lien.

Be sure your research is thorough. It’s not worth tarnishing your name and losing future business over a bad hire.

If you have any questions, please ask below!