Any renovation or building project should be done properly by a professional. There are a lot of great companies out there that are able to provide the results you want and need, but knowing which one to choose can be confusing. It can be easy to spot the tell tale signs of a cowboy builder, one that may not meet your expectations.
Good contractors are extremely busy and do not need to make cold calls to solicit customers. They can be booked months or even years ahead of time, and the reason for this is they they do quality work. They are in demand. A cowboy builder is probably always looking for work and willing to pick up any job immediately.
Ask several contractors for a quote on the work that needs to be done. Any building project is going to be expensive, and when dealing with reputable companies, the quotes should all be in the same price range. When a quotation appears too low, it can be a bad sign that the builder is a fly by night company and should never be chosen for the job.
Any reputable builder will be happy to provide references. They should be proud of their work, and should have no problem allowing you to speak with others that they have done work for. If there are no concrete references that can be linked to the builder, steer clear.
Any contractor with a good work ethic will be willing to out the entire job in writing and place a guarantee on the work. This will help to protect both parties in case there are issues, and can help sort out problems if they arise. It should state what will be done, and perhaps a time line for finishing the project.
Never pay in cash for any building project. This provides nothing in the lines of a paper trail. Payment in full before the job is started is not a normal practise, and can lead to problems like the job not being started or seen through to completion. Credit card or cheque payments are far better, and provide solid proof the the transaction has been completed.
It is worth the time to do research and ensure that the builder that is chosen is professional and reputable, and will do the job properly. Protect the investment of a building project by knowing the tell tale signs of a cowboy builder and avoiding problems before they begin.
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