How to find good contractors for your next project

Finding and hiring reputable contractors is a must when you’re embarking on a home renovation. But that can seem easier said than done if you don’t know where to look, nor how to check out the contractor’s claims.

Pros who can be trusted and with whom you can establish a good relationship are essential when you’re renovating a house, and sourcing and hiring good contractors is the first step to a project that delivers in every way. The question, though, is how to track them down, and then how to be sure they really can do what they say they can.

To solve the dilemma, we asked experts for their advice and, here, they explain the sources you can use and the ways to check out contractor bona fides.

Find the right contractor for your reno

Home renovation costs and is disruptive – but it’s also well worthwhile if you can achieve the outcome you expected, and for that, you need good contractors.

‘When it comes to investing in a person’s most valuable asset – their home – it is very important to know that they’re choosing the correct contractor to get the job done right the first time,’ says Andrew Prchal, president and co-founder of Gunner.

‘There are many ways to find a contractor whether it be local groups/channels, a simple online search, referrals, manufacturer-recommended contractors, and of course, finding them through ads,’ he adds.

Get the details on the top ways to look, below, plus how to check you’ve really found the right contractor for the job. One last step? Make sure you also know the questions to ask contractors before you hire them.

Word of mouth

Personal recommendation is an excellent way to find contractors, say the experts we consulted.

‘Word of mouth remains one of the best ways to find reputable and high quality providers for contracting and renovations services in any given area,’ says Josh Rudin, owner at ASAP Restoration. Home and community online portals are a great way to get your neighbors to provide who they have had good experiences with, and who to avoid.’

Jodi Peterman, owner at Elizabeth Erin Designs, agrees. ‘Ask friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues if they have had any positive experiences with contractors,’ she says. ‘Personal recommendations are invaluable because they come from trusted sources who have first-hand experience with the contractor’s work quality and reliability.’

And she notes that, if you’re working with an interior designer, it’s worth asking their opinion. ‘Interior designers often have a network of trusted contractors they recommend to clients for home improvements and repairs,’ she says. ‘They are vested in ensuring that the contractors they recommend do quality work, as it reflects on their professional reputation.’

Associate real estate broker at Sotheby’s International Realty Angelica Ferguson VonDrak also suggests word of mouth as a top way to find the best contractor. ‘I always recommend starting with referrals from friends, family, or industry professionals like your real estate agent,’ she says. ‘Personal experiences will give you the best gauge of a contractor’s quality and work ethic.’

Drive around

Time spent driving around can be valuable, according to Danny Johnson, founder of Danny Buys Houses.

‘We buy a lot of houses that are in complete disrepair,’ he says. ‘This requires us to find quality contractors for these large scale renovation projects. I use a method not commonly used to find great contractors.

‘I drive through the areas of town that have similar houses to the one we will be renovating. During this drive, I am on the lookout for signs of major renovations. Things like a roll-off dumpster in the driveway and contractor trucks parked outside make it easy to find these.

‘The door is usually open when the house is undergoing a major renovation because it is likely vacant. I’ll knock and yell, “hello!”

‘This method of finding great contractors has had a very high success rate for me because I am able to see how clean they keep their jobs and the quality of the work they are doing as I walk the house. If there is trash everywhere and shoddy work being performed, I politely tell them to have a nice day. If things looks great, I will ask who is in charge and get a business card.’

Better Business Bureau

The BBB (Better Business Bureau) can help you find contractors, explains Josh Rudin.

‘Businesses need to pay to be listed in the BBB and the ones that do truly care about their reputation because the BBB does actual investigations of work if a customer complains,’ he explains. ‘This means that if a contractor is doing poor quality work or providing sub-par services, then that will be reflected in their BBB rating.

‘If the company has had real problems, like not finishing projects, doing shoddy work, not communicating with customers or vendors, or holding the finished product hostage for more money, they will have received complaints that the BBB will look into individually on a case-by-case basis. If a company has a poor BBB rating, then they have done a lot of bad work to get there.

‘Similarly, companies that care about their BBB reputation will have great reviews there, and they will have similar reviews on other sites that show the same level of quality and care.’

Review sites

Review sites are a great way to find a selection of contractors in your area, but you need to approach unvetted comments with an appropriate amount of caution.

‘When using review sites, homeowners should try to find contractors that have an overwhelming number of positive reviews,’ advises Josh Rudin. ‘It’s also important to note that not all bad reviews are truly bad reviews. Some of them are written by people who aren’t actually customers, and others are written by people with wholly unrealistic expectations. Gauge the veracity of the reviews for any company you are thinking of choosing, and weigh things out from there.

‘Another factor to consider when using review sites is if the company has replied to the reviews,’ he suggests. ‘If they have responded to both good and bad reviews, then that means the company not only cares about its reputation, but also their communication, too. When doing a major home renovation or similar project, being able to rely on your communication with the contractor is critical, and these sites will show if the company cares enough to respond, as well as the quality of their response and reply time which is date stamped.’

View examples of their work

Finding contractors using the methods above is only the start. ‘You still have work to do from there,’ says Andrew Prchal. ‘You want to make sure to do research on the contractor regardless of how you heard about them.

‘Request to see a portfolio of previous projects, either online or in person,’ says Jodi Peterman. ‘Many contractors showcase their work on their websites or social media pages. If possible, arrange to visit past job sites to inspect the quality of work first hand. Some contractors may also provide virtual tours of completed projects.’

Derek Perzylo, co-owner of Big 5 Exteriors, agrees. ‘Although seeing past work in person is best, photos provide a quality checkpoint, too,’ he says. ‘High-resolution photos in an online gallery or sample booklet allow you to inspect details. Look for neat, clean finishes and attention to details as signs of good craftsmanship. Pictures can also help identify a contractor’s areas of specialty.’

Ask for references

Always request references, too. ‘Ask for and contact references from previous clients. Inquire about their overall experience, the quality of the work, and the contractor’s reliability and professionalism,’ says Jodi Peterman.

It’s also important to check contractors out with manufacturers, if applicable. ‘Check with the manufacturers they are associated with to verify their standing/status,’ says Andrew Prchal.

Ensure they’re licensed

Check professional credentials before going ahead with a contractor. ‘In the US, a home improvement contractor license is a must for professionals,’ explains Aaron Brundage, director of operations at System Pavers.

‘Insurance and background checks are important, too, as you need to be able to trust the people coming onto your property. And you don’t want to be held liable in the event of any disasters. Each state has different requirements for licensing, so you’ll need to check what yours requires. Once you know what credentials are needed, ask any potential contractor to provide those. If they can’t do that, don’t hire them.’

Don’t forget that even if a contractor passes all your checks, it’s also important to be comfortable with them. ‘If a contractor doesn’t return a phone call or text in a reasonable time frame, then this could be a major red flag,’ says Andrew Prchal. ‘You want someone that will be there for you before, during, and even after the project. Initial contact and any delays it comes with could be a glimpse into what communication will be like throughout the duration of the project.’