Consumer vs Conractor: A Review of the Article The Only Way to Hire a Contractor

This is a review of the article The Only Way To Hire A Contractor – Never Get Three Free Estimates. First of all I would like to start off by saying that while the article is well written, it is clearly written from the contractors point of view and not the consumers. A consumer should feel free to get as many estimates as they feel necessary. Dale Adams writes that estimates can put a hardship on the contractor, he talks about everything from taking the contractor away from supervising his crew to using the contractors gas money. If a contractor can not afford to give estimates, they should not be in this line of business.

A consumer can often learn a lot about a contractor in the time that it takes to show them the job that you want completed. Not only can you learn about their skill level, you can pick up on other things that may give hints as to how the contractor operates. You wouldn’t get an operation without a consultation, don’t let a contractor swing a hammer without a thorough discussion of the job that is to be completed. While proper grammar isn’t at the top of the “must have” list when it comes to finding a contractor, if the contractor has anunkept appearance, their is always the possibility that they may leave their work site dirty as well. If they show up caked in mud fresh off of a job to do your estimate, they are not respecting your home and won’t respect it more after you hire them.

While it may not be necessary to get the three estimates that Dale Adams is warning against, I would definitely recommend getting more than one. Comparitive shopping is good for most any purchase and home improvements should be no different. You don’t necessarily have to disclose to the contractor that you are seeking further estimates but it can be used as a bargaining tool further into the process. If you are particularly pleased with a contractor but his price issignificantly higher than the other estimates, their is nothing wrong with letting the contractor know that you would like to hire them if the price could be negotiated. The cost of home improvements can be negotiated and should be if they are higher than average. If the contractor can not do a good job for the price, they shouldn’t take the job.

Mr. Adams goes into the area of contractors needing to feed their families and the basic necessity to make a living. If a contractor can not do the job for the negotiated price, they will tell you this up front and either walk away or let you know what they can do the home improvement job for. Mr. Adams seems to try to lay a guilt trip on savvy consumers. Don’t let his article faze you from doing your due diligence. Get as many estimates as you feel necessary in order to feel comfortable with the contractor that you choose. While time is money for those in this industry, it is also in their best interest to make a potential customer feel like theycompetent enough to do the job in a timely manner.

On a final note, their was one part of the article that I fully agreed with. Mr. Adams suggests asking to see the contractors license and insurance information. This advice is right on target and is a must. If you would like to take it one step further, feel free to call your local licensing board in order to verify the information that the contractor has provided. You are allowing this person into your home and your familiessense of safety and security should be as important as getting your home improvement job completed on time and on budge.