| By :
Mark Etinger
You've got a big project involving office build-outs and you need it finished by a certain date in the imminent future. Well, you probably shouldn't have waited till the last minute, but that's okay. But now you don't want to just choose at random any old contractor. It's best to go with someone you know personally or have worked with in the past, but hey, if you have that resource, you probably wouldn't be reading this article. Anyways, with these tips on how to choose a contractor, you can feel more comfortable in your decision. 1. Once you have an idea of who you want to work with, you should meet them. Look for rapport, professionalism and punctuality. Communication is especially important in this meeting. If there is anything that sets you off, or you don't feel comfortable about, it's probably not a good idea to hire them. This part of the interview comes down to general impressions, which are almost always right. 2. Licensing: It's important to look at the reputation of the contracting firm. They should have a license, and should not have any recent complaints or reports against them within the past three or so years. 3. Insurance: You should ask to see their certificates on this merit. It's great if they have workmen's compensation and general liability, but if they have general liability that's okay too. You probably shouldn't work with them if they don't have any insurance. 4. When it comes to the stability of the company, you ideally want a physical business office and address, but if they work from home that's cool. Reject them if they only have a cell phone number. 5. References: You should check these to see how the company has worked in the past. After looking at five or so positive reviews, they're most likely reliable. If there are just a couple, they can be trusted, but if there are none, this should raise warning flags. 6. Type: It's best to work with a contractor who specializes in the work that you need done. If they can do the kind of job you need, but usually do small home repairs, then they're still probably trustworthy. 7. Plan: You want a clear and definite description of what will ensue on the job. Discounts to sign up immediately are a bad sign. Any assumptions about the scope of the work should be covered in detail. Both a written and verbal guarantee are reassuring and should be provided if the contractor is professional. No more than 25% to 33% of the price is asked for up front; the rest should be provided upon the office build outs completion. Now since you're the one paying the contractor, the terms should be yours. Don't feel pressured into anything, and define what you want specifically from the job. Once you decide, don't get in the contractor's way - they know what they're doing. And before they're done, review what has been completed. Then talk about it with them. They'll be glad to meet and surpass your expectations, because hey, that's their job!
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