Mistakes to Avoid when Hiring a Contractor!

Our 2019 season is gearing up for action and every year, I meet dozens of people preparing for renovation projects on their home. If you are planning a home renovation project, it pays to be prepared! Most homeowners have very limited knowledge when it comes to home renovations or improvements. I've met people who are completely overwhelmed trying to make choices. Here are several things you will want to avoid before hiring company to do your home renovation project.

1. Not Doing Sufficient Research

It’s important you look into every company you are considering. Check out the company's website , ask for references of homes you can drive and look at, browse their HomeStars profile and read their reviews. If you look at past work and reviews, this will give you a better idea of the quality of work the company does and the kind of customer service you can expect to receive. 

2. NEVER Pay Cash in advance of the job commencing

NO REPUTABLE COMPANY will ever ask you for a large sum of money in cash before commencing the job. You DO NOT want to fall victim to a contractor fraud. Every year I meet customers who gave someone a large sum of cash never to see that person again. In some cases, contractors used fake names and there will never be a way to track these people down. Offers that seem too good to be true are just that! 

3. Never Hire Based on the Cheapest Quote

There's no doubt, everyone wants a good deal, but when it comes to your home project, you have to ask you self two very important questions: 1. Am I looking for the cheapest price? or 2. Am I looking for the best quality workmanship?   Usually, the answer to each of these are a mile apart! Although the lowest quote might make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, you may be left with a real hangover! Just ask Alex, whose job we completed in January 2019. Alex paid thousands of dollars in cash up front to a company that gave him the cheapest quote. By the time the house was half done, it was evident they had no clue how to install eavestrough, fascia, soffit or siding! He fired them and called us in. We had to strip everything off the house and start all over it was so bad!

On the other hand, you aren't necessarily looking for the company with the highest quote either. You are looking to hire the company you know can do a quality job and make you one happy customer in the end!

NEVER allow the cheapest quote to dictate the company you hire. Ideally, you will hire the company you feel most comfortable working with and have the most confidence in.

4. Paying In Part or in Full and Not Obtaining a Receipt

This is a BIG mistake many homeowners make, especially when it comes to home renovation projects. You should NEVER pay for an entire project in full before it is completed. At The Eavestrough Company, we never ask for a deposit unless the project is very large (over $10,000) or a job that will take us weeks to complete.  A deposit is common, but this should be about a quarter of the overall price. A legitimate company will outline payment terms in their contract and provide you with a receipt. If the company you are dealing with does not provide these items, you should find a new company who will.

No matter how you pay the company, you need to get a receipt for your records. Having proof of payment is essential should anything happen afterwards and you need to prove you paid the company for their services. If you do pay the company in cash ensure you get a receipt or proof the money was accepted. An email confirming payment was exchanged for services is another good option. Keep in mind that a contract does not prove work was done, only proof of payment does. 

Over the course of 12 years in business, I have seen dozens and dozens of contractor frauds. I have seen people ripped off for as much as $20,000! That's a lot of coin! The next point may help you avoid being one of these casualties. 

5. Never Ignore Important Details! 

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when hiring is not looking into credentials of the company they hire. Here are some key points that nearly assure you will not be ripped off by the company you hire:

1. The Company you hire should be licensed and have a GST number. Our Business License number is printed at the bottom of all our estimates!

2. The company you hire MUST have WSIB with the Canadian Government AND Liability Insurance with a private insurance company! A company that does not have WSIB and general liability insurance could end up costing you more than just the renovation fees. If a worker is injured on your property and is not covered, you could end up paying the costs. Without proper insurance, your home insurance policy becomes the primary insurance used to cover all medical expenses and lost wages. If your insurance company finds out that you knowingly hired a company without insurance, they have the right to deny the claim. This means you will have to pay for everything out of your own pocket. Also, without Liability insurance, if the company damages your property, they can walk away and you are left with a legal battle on your hands!

3. The company you hire should be a member of the Better Business Bureau. If they display the BBB symbol, it means they have been investigated by the BBB and are likely a reputable company. The BBB also provides you with an avenue of complaint and resolution should you have any issues with the company you hire. Remember: Look for this symbol!

4. The company you hire should be a Home Stars verified company! Seeing a Verified badge means that the company has passed criminal background checks on the owners and workers, submitted to credit checks, has the proper professional licensing, and is fully insured.  Look for this symbol on the companies Home Stars page:

That's it! Of course, we would love to be the company you hire to do your eavestrough, fascia, soffit or siding AND we will do a spectacular job for you. You can give us a call at 905-966-2564 or you can visit our website at www.theeavestroughcompany.com