10 Tips for Choosing Local Contractors for Home Repairs

When you are looking to hire home repair contractors in the UK, it is often tempting to go with the cheapest option available, but you’re getting exactly what you pay for if you do so. Even if you choose the most expensive option, you still want to make sure that you’re hiring a quality contractor who will treat your home with respect and be responsible for your money. Here are 10 tips to help you when choosing local contractors for home repairs.

1 Get an idea of the Costs

If you’re not sure about what your project will cost, get estimates from a few local contractors. They’ll be able to give you an idea of what you can expect, based on what they’ve seen other homeowners pay for similar projects. Make sure that their quotes include materials and labor costs, or you could end up spending more than expected.

2 Think about your Priorities

Before you start looking, it’s important to make a list of your priorities. What’s most important when choosing local home repair contractors? It might be price, turnaround time, or skill. Figure out what factors are most important to you and then use that information as a guide during your search. It’s also a good idea to consult with friends and family particularly if they had recent home repair projects done and ask them which local contractors they recommend.

3 Stay within your budget

Do research before you go to local home repair contractors so that you know what you can afford. Meet with multiple vendors in person and get quotes. Consider going with someone who is recommended by friends or family members who have used them in their own homes first. Never go into a contract without doing your due diligence. And if something feels off, don’t be afraid to stop negotiating and walk away.

4 Know what you want

Before you even get to your local home repair contractors, have a very clear idea of what you’re looking for. For example, if it’s an electrical job that needs doing, know exactly what parts of your electrical system need fixing and whether you want to replace them or just upgrade them. This will help eliminate local home repair contractors who can’t offer you precisely what you need.

5 Work with a pro

When we hire a professional—be it a plumber, an electrician, or any other type of home repair contractor we’re trusting that person to do his or her job well and take responsibility if something goes wrong. Here are ten things to keep in mind when you’re looking for one. Ask your friends, if you have friends who have had their homes renovated recently, and ask them about their experience with contractors. If they had good experiences, get referrals from them; if not, find out why and make sure you don’t make those same mistakes yourself.

6 Find at least 2 contractors that are good enough

Finding a great home repair contractor can be difficult, especially in a small town or city. However, you’ll be able to spot great contractors from afar and avoid some common pitfalls. Before you begin your search, ask friends and family if they have any recommendations; it’s better to choose contractors who come highly recommended than those that don’t.

7 Get an Estimate from more than 1 Contractor

Although you should always get an estimate from more than one contractor, it is generally a good idea to have 3-5 estimates in hand before you pick a contractor. If you’re not sure where to start, ask friends, family or coworkers for contractors they can recommend. You can also look up contractors on sites like Angie’s List and read reviews. Do your research.

8 Ask around

When it comes to home repairs, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Ask friends, neighbors, and coworkers for referrals. If you have a few contractors in mind already, ask them about their track record and how long they’ve been in business. A good contractor will be able to talk about past work experience with other clients and ideally, those clients should recommend him or her wholeheartedly.

9 Check Online Reviews

Whether you’re looking to hire a contractor, find a doctor, or purchase an item online, it never hurts to do some research beforehand. Checking review sites like Angie’s List, Google+, and more can help you learn about new local businesses in your area. These resources can also give you an idea of what others have thought about certain companies which might be enough to prevent you from wasting time on bad contractors.

10 Check Past Jobs/References

Call past customers and ask them how their home repair contractors worked. Check their references, in particular. A smart professional will list previous clients so you can talk to some of them to see if they’re trustworthy. The worse thing that could happen is if someone gives a contractor a bad reference; if they seem shady, it’s probably best not to hire them in any case.

Ask about complaints, too; you might learn about specific situations where a contractor may not have performed well or instances where work was delayed for an unreasonable amount of time or cost more than anticipated. And finally, there are certain issues like hiring local contractors for home repairs that should come up immediately: Are these experts bonded and insured? Do they have proper certification?