Have you ever hired contractors that ended up doing a terrible job? Most of us know that feeling. You pay a lot of money and spend a lot of time trying to get your money’s worth, but at the end of the day, no matter how you try, you just end up becoming more and more drained from your energy.
One important part of success is knowing how to qualify the right people for the job, but how do you know whether someone is a good fit for a project and a job? It’s pretty simple, just keep an open mind and notice the subtle clues that they may give. Here are some important signs to look out for!
Will Consult You and Listen
A good contractor will listen your needs and what is best for you. You may think you need something, however if they actually are not afraid to go against what you want and actually tell you something that you need to hear, then it’s a sign of a good contractor.
Most people will pretend to like your idea or go along with your plans because they want to please or because they just want the job and the money. However, one trait that makes them stand out would be honesty and telling you the cold hard truth without being a jerk about it.
Does Things on Time
Do they show up on time as agreed? Do they get the work done as planned to the schedule? If so, it’s a great sign that they are a good fit for a contracting job. It’s hard to see whether they are actually fit for the role just by talking to them or interviewing them, so you need to test out a few small projects and see whether they deliver on the things they promised.
Has a Plan
Have you ever heard someone say “Let’s just wait and see what happens” or “We’ll figure it out along the way” That’s a recipe for disaster!
Of course you can’t predict everything however you do need at least some guideline and protocol you can follow. A good contractor will know when to make minor adjustment without deviating from the initial plan too much.
When you have a plan, both parties have clear expectation of what is going to get done and how things are going to get done. So by the end of the project, there won’t be any miscommunication that can result in a big heated discussion.
Upholds Best Practices
Are they certified and use best practices for their industry? You would want to ask about what kind of philosophy and values they uphold. Some companies are only about the profit, whereas some actually care about the quality and doing work that is actually according to best practice.
People who do quality work without cutting corners may be a little more expensive, but in the long run paying premium for quality work with best practice will actually save you money!