I have been in this business for over 30 years, and I have learned the answer to this often-asked question… Find the contractor that handles problems the best and hire them.
In construction, as in all businesses, the vast majority of jobs/projects/transactions go smoothly. That is not to say that everything goes perfectly, but for the most part there are not usually “Big Problems.”
That said, no matter how much you prepare, no matter how well you execute the plan, no matter how hard you try, or how much you care, problems happen. Be they the result of unforeseen circumstances, or just old fashioned human errors, problems happen and the true test of any contractor is how do they handle these problems.
So, when you are faced with the decision to hire a contractor, please don’t just ask for a list of references and call 1 or 2, thinking you now know enough to make your decision. Any contractor still in business will have plenty of recently completed jobs where everything went well and the customers were pleased to offer a reference.
Rather, talk to prospective contractors about how they handle their problems. Ask about jobs with problems, and explore how the problems were corrected. Ask for the contact information on a job with problems and make sure the customer agrees with the contractor. As an aside, if a contractor can’t, or won’t, give you the contact info for such a job, they are either lying that they never have caused problems, or they haven’t been in business long enough for you to hire them.
When you are sure you have found a contractor willing to accept responsibility for problems and one that will go “the extra mile” to correct a problem… Hire them.
That is why I would tell you to hire Repairs Unlimited, as we have been accepting responsibility and going beyond “the extra mile” for over 30 years.
Jigger James
Founder, Repairs Unlimited, Inc.