Cape Cod Contractors - Choose a Contractor

How to Choose a Contractor

Pick someone who communicates openly and clearly, that listens carefully to your needs and ideas, and that does not give you a quote before knowing what you want.
If a contractor suggests you do something differently, it may be because they want do do it their way. So get a second opinion. But listen carefully to each of them. They probably know better than you do about technical details, but you are the final judge, especially about appearance and quality.
Get everything in writing. Cape Cod Contractors provide you with a private blog where you both can post details from the first estimates to final completion. You can post email messages, text messages from your phone, or just edit the blog like a Facebook wall. You can see the records for major milestones in the completion of your project.
If two contractors quote very different prices for the job you think you described completely, before you choose one get them to post more details about their specific materials and methods, and hourly labor estimates. Variations in their bids likely means that there is miscommunication. The will mean variations in the scope and/or final quality of their work.
Ask the contractor how their business is going. You want one who is financially sound and well-insured. Ask to see a copy of the contractor’s certification of insurance. Get the name of the insurance agency to verify coverage. Massachusetts requires a contractor to carry worker’s compensation, property damage and personal liability insurance.
You can learn the rules and regulations governing Cape Cod Contractors on these Commonwealth of Massachusetts web pages:
- There are FAQs on Homeowners Improvement Information.
- Our contractors have various kinds of Construction Licenses.
- You can check contractors licenses here License Lookups.
You can look up contractors at the Eastern Massachusetts Better Business Bureau, but keep in mind that this is a financial and administrative burden for some smaller contractors who may not have been accredited with BBB, who also are in the business of selling job referrals.
There are some useful tools for homeowners at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, who have a Cape Cod Chapter.