GET CONTRACTOR REFERENCES/SEE EXAMPLES OF PREVIOUS WORK

Aside from “having a connection” with your potential contractor, you need to have confidence in them as a business.  Do they provide a valuable product and service?  Are they reliable?  Can they clearly communicate:  both listen and advise?  One way to evaluate this is to look at their body of work.  You can get a good feel for a contractor’s quality from their portfolio.  Walking through an active project is very informative, as well.  Even though you may not see finished items, you get a sense for organization and cleanliness.  These two items speak volumes about a contractor.  Take note. 

References are an interesting practice for builders.  Almost all of our work comes by referral – we did a project for a friend or an associate of the potential client.  It is good to ask a reference about how well the contractor communicated.  How clear were they with their pricing?  Did they set realistic expectations regarding the project’s schedule?  Would you use them for a future project?  Ultimately, we feel that a recommendation from a friend or trusted associate regarding a contractor holds great value.  You have already established trust with your friend or colleague, the fact that they are willing to vouch for a contractor says a lot.  We are mindful of our previous clients’ privacy if asked for outside references.  We occasionally share these references, but only after getting the approval of our clients.