Where and how to find reputable recommendations
So you're building a home or remodeling one, and you want to get some local recommendations. What do most people do? They head to the local "Big Box" home improvement store and ask them. Should they have tons of great recommendations, right?
Well, they will have cards and indexes of contractors to choose from, but they are not necessarily "great." They get business cards and numbers from every person who has ever tried to build something, which can put you in a bad situation if you are not careful. I'm not saying you should not get recommendations there, but be sure you still do your homework before hiring a recommended contractor from ANYWHERE.
Those in rural or semi-rural areas may have better luck asking a home improvement store than those in urban or city areas. The stores in a rural area are often more familiar with the contractors and local homeowners that have used them and therefore can make a more trustworthy recommendation. F you ask at a home improvement store, be sure to ask if they are familiar with that contractor's work; if not, you can still call the contractor but be sure to investigate thoroughly before using him.
Some of the best places to get a recommendation are local small businesses, a local stone yard, or a local family-owned home improvement store; They are usually rich in local contractors that they know on a personal basis.
Another great idea is to find newly built homes in the area and contact the homeowners. Hey, they are often a great source of recommendations, especially if they are happy with the work done. Also, make small talk with friends and family who live near you and ask them if they have any recommendations.
Ask other contractors if you are in the middle of building a home and have used contractors for the different phases of your home, ask them to recommend someone for the subsequent stages of your project.
Lastly, there are websites and apps dedicated to finding quality contractors. List them last since I'm not sure about the quality of the recommendations. We are a member of one where the homeowner pays for the information to weed out undesirable contractors. Since anyone can write a review on them, I think that competitors can write bad reviews; it makes me wonder if the reviews on this site are truthful. . Another site makes the contractor pay for the info, which I have looked into. Since different programs have different prices, I wonder if contractors are recommended more on a higher pay scale. If anyone has used these services with good or bad results, please comment below and let me know.
The point is that there is no shortage of places to find a contractor. The best way to get a good one is to use all of these sources. Often, a particular contractor's name will come up several times, either good or bad; that's an excellent way to help make a shortlist. after you pick a few, you can meet with them, get a feel for their work by asking questions and reviewing portfolio's (yes I highly recommend very contractor keep a portfolio) and do your homework before hiring your new contractor!
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