Questions
to Ask a Contractor
When interviewing prospective contractors, pay
attention to how they answer your questions. A good contractor will
listen carefully and not rush you into decisions.
Do you work
full time or part time as a contractor?
___ Full time (preferable) ___ Part time
How long have
you worked as a contractor?
A minimum of five years of experience is preferable. Most
contractors who go out of business do so in the first five years.
_____ years of experience
Is your
contractor’s license in good standing?
Also get license numbers for any subcontractors on your project.
Check with the state licensing board or the Better Business Bureau
if you are not certain of a contractor's certification. Avoid
working with a contractor whose license is defective, or one who has
numerous complaints on record.
___ Yes ___ No
License number: ______________
How many
projects like this one have you completed?
Gauge a contractor's expertise in the kind of work you want
performed.
May I have the
names and phone numbers of your last five clients?
A reputable contractor will give you this information; if a
contractor won't refer you to previous customers, cancel the rest of
the interview. If possible, visit one or two clients to inspect the
quality of the work (and verify that these are legitimate jobs).
What kind of
insurance do you carry?
Your contractor should have personal and property liability coverage
and workers’ compensation, all of which are required by law. Ask
for copies of the policies for your files and verify that the
documents are up to date.
___ Full liability (personal and property)
___ Workers’ compensation
Who will
actually do the work?
You want to know if the contractor will be hiring subcontractors and
managing the work at the job site.
Can you give me
an estimate of how much the project will cost?
Do some research on your own as well. Contact suppliers for prices
on materials; don't forget to factor in the cost of labor. Determine
whether the contractor's bid seems reasonable; remember that the
lowest bidder isn't always the best choice.
Will you fill
out a credit application?
Get a credit application from your bank and copy it for prospective
contractors to fill out. It is important to know where your
contractor banks and verify that the contractor is a reliable
customer.
What are your
regular work hours?
Also, ask how they deal with delays in the work schedule.
Will you
provide your own contract?
Most contractors have their own contracts. If yours does not, you
can provide your own.
Charles
L. Annibale Real Estate
2299
Brodhead Road
Suite
C-A
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020
Tel: 610-867-6322
Broker of Record: Charles L. Annibale
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