Choosing the right contractor for your project can be overwhelming. Typically, most homeowners are concerned with the following:

  • What criteria should you use to qualify a proposal and contractor?
  • How do you tell if the contractor is a professional and will deliver what's specified
  • How do you determine if they'll stand behind their work or be financially responsible if there's a significant flaw in their work?
  • How do you determine if the price is right?

While there's no clear-cut answer to these questions, there are several indicators to help you qualify certain contractors and reject others to protect yourself and get the best return on your investment.

Here are some important questions to ask...

1. What's the full name and address of the company? Most dissatisfied owners chose low-bid undercapitalized contractors.

2. Does the company carry insurance, and is its coverage adequate to protect you and your property? Uninsured or inadequately insured contractors have financially harmed owners.

3. Is the company a licensed contractor? Is the contractor a member of a trade association and in good standing?

4. How long has the contractor been in business? The more experienced the better. Under five years is often a tell-tale sign of an unstable business. Most contracting businesses (96%) fail within the first five years.

5. What is the contractor's track record for handling complaints? The question isn't if they have had disputes. Most have. Most important is how they resolve them.

6. What is the contractor's warranty for workmanship? Typically, contractor workmanship warranties are for one year (state required) or more. Warranty length is less critical than the contractor's intent and ability to stand behind their warranty.

The above information is provided from the Certified Contractors Network "How To Make A Successful Construction Investment" brochure provided to every Quarve Contracting future customer. Quarve Contracting has served as a member of the Certified Contractors Network for over 25 years. Whether you choose Quarve or not, we are here to help you make the right decision for your project.