BOKISSONTHRONE: Know how to select a Good Emergency Contractor

Friday, May 20, 2016

Know how to select a Good Emergency Contractor

How to Select

a Good Emergency contractor

This is a follow up or update on how to choose a competent building contractor posted on this blog a while ago. For general repairs in your home the most common mistake is to look for a contractor /artisan when you have a repair to do. This time you are already under pressure to get it fixed, so you are most likely going to accept the first tradesman you see.

The disadvantages of this is that you won’t want to price the work for long. You have not had time to know more about that person and how good he may be.

So when you get to a new place , please look for general services and emergency contractors like plumber, electrician e.t.c Yes, one of the easiest ways as also written by me in the older post is to get references from friends and family members. Another one is to get the reference from a building professional like architect, structural engineer,buildere.t.c He (the pro.) must have worked with the person he’s refering as they are in the same industry, the possibilities of testing and knowing the competence of the contractor is there.

Take time to get some names, meet with them and have a rapport with them, then you can access their level of professionalism. You can as well arrange an appointment with them and notice their punctuality, some will respond faster than others though this is not a sign that one is better than the other, because the other person may be very good and busy hence he may need more time, just access the individual and find how you can place them on your schedule.

Substance abuse also matters, though that is a personal thing, but a contractor should be able to respect you and consider what you may feel about him if found drinking alcohol heavily or smoking “indian hemp or marijuana”.

Here’s a checklist of things to consider when selecting your contractor. Let’s use ratings of “Best”, “Good”, “OK”, “Fair” and “Reject” to classify some of these items as stated in about.com though some of them will not apply to you but I have left it unedited.

Getting Names of Possible Contractors:

You have had good personal prior experience working with contractor [BEST]
Reliable referral from direct experience of family or friends [GOOD]
You know of the contractor’s reputation but have no direct experience [OK]
You found them from a trade association or general advertising [FAIR]
You have had good personal prior experience working with contractor [BEST]
Reliable referral from direct experience of family or friends [GOOD]
You know of the contractor’s reputation but have no direct experience [OK]
You found them from a trade association or general advertising [FAIR]

State Contractor Licensing (they must provide the number if licensed):

Licensed; has never had a complaint filed or had disciplinary action taken [BEST]
Licensed; has no prior complaints filed for at least 3 or more years [FAIR]
Licensed; current complaints or actions against them within the past 3 years [REJECT]
Contractor has no license [REJECT]
Licensed; has never had a complaint filed or had disciplinary action taken [BEST]
Licensed; has no prior complaints filed for at least 3 or more years [FAIR]
Licensed; current complaints or actions against them within the past 3 years [REJECT]
Contractor has no license [REJECT]
Insurance (ask to see their certificates): Workman’s Compensation and
General Liability [BEST]
General Liability only (bodily injury and property damage) [GOOD]
Contractor has no insurance [REJECT]
Workman’s Compensation and General Liability [BEST]
General Liability only (bodily injury and property damage) [GOOD]
Contractor has no insurance [REJECT]