Behind every successful landlord is a reliable home contractor. However, the road to success is not easy, and the same goes for finding a good contractor.
Finding a contractor is easy. It’s finding one who is reliable, fair, and honest that is challenging. A landlord must find a contractor who knows what he is doing, prices services reasonably, respects the budget, and follows a clear timeline. Such contractors don’t come by often. They might lack at least one of those qualities. There is never a guarantee, but there are ways to increase the chances of finding one who fits the criteria.
Ask referrals and recommendations from trustworthy colleagues
Looking for contractors advertising their services online is easy. However, you can’t always believe everything they say in their ad. Anyone who’s selling their services will not tell you their weaknesses.
The best approach is to ask fellow landlords or anyone from your network who can give an honest opinion or has previously hired the contractor they recommend.
If you do not know many people who hire contractors, check reviews on a contractor’s Facebook page before hiring them. Get a general idea of the satisfaction their previous clients have experienced. It’s best to focus on reviews that have photos of what they had the contractor done. Also, do not close your doors just because of one negative review because sometimes, it’s not the contractor’s fault.
Interview them over the phone first
Starting with a quick phone interview will save time for both landlord and contractor. A landlord must get a sense of whether or not the contractor is capable first before asking them to come over and give a quotation for the project.
The landlord must ask if the contractor has done projects of similar size and nature before. It is also good to know how many projects they are juggling at the same time because they might accept your project but wouldn’t have the time for it.
A contractor who has nothing sketchy to hide must also be willing to disclose information to prove their credibility. It’s good that from the get-go, the landlord would ask the contractor is open to provide financial references from banks or suppliers, as well as their licenses and previous clients.
Another vital question to ask is how long they have been working with subcontractors. It is also one indirect way to ask if they work with subcontractors. Sometimes the contractor may seem ideal, but the subcontractors they will send to do the job will not provide what the contractor promised.
Speak to past clients
If the contractor can provide any reference of their past clients, it would be worth it to reach out to the latter and ask about their experience with the contractor.
Meet them in person
After talking to a contractor over the phone and it goes well, the landlord can set a meeting with the contractor on-site. He can evaluate what needs to get done then provide an estimated cost and timeframe. It will also be a chance to get a feel of their vibe by how professional they act. Body language can give off a more accurate impression. If something feels off, listen to your gut.
Get different quotations
Do not lock in on one contractor without exploring others. It is wise to have at least three quotations from different contractors, especially if it’s the first time you hire for that kind of task or project. It’s normal if there are significant price differences from one contractor to another because it depends on what the contractor will include. If the quotations do not differ much, then it could mean that you are getting an honest rate.
Do not focus on price
Even though it is tempting, the lowest price may not always be the best choice. Always proceed with caution when going for the lowest price. Some contractors price low for various reasons. It could be because they want to expand their experience and client base, so that might not be as alarming compared to if they will only provide low-quality service.
If there are three options, it may be better to go for the second-highest in terms of price. But it is also not just about the amount, but how the contractor justifies the price. Choosing the cheapest or the most expensive doesn’t guarantee anything. In the end, it’s the contractor that you feel is most trustworthy you should pick.
Once you find a reliable contractor for repairs and renovations, keep a good relationship by all means. That way, when your rental agent publishes your listing on Padleads, he can confidently boast of good quality property maintenance and repair response. Tenants would love that.