Cape Cod Contractors is a group of building craftsmen who have been contracting jobs big and small on the Cape and Islands for the past 35 years. We built this website as a new way for customers to find reliable, trustworthy, and skilled contractors.

The web is a great resource for finding contractors. We ourselves have used many web-based job brokers, including "free" referrals like Service Magic (where the contractor pays a fee for each job lead) and membership-based consumer reviews like Angie's List.

There are several other models, of course. Traditional newspapers have extended their classified ads to the web. Cape Cod Times offers paid listings for builders. CapeContractors.com offers free listings of over 200 contractors, but they offer no job leads. Some groups of builders charge members for listings, such as the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod the Cape Cod Chapter of the National Association of the Remodelers Industry.

All these services are fine, but many require contractors to pay up front before getting any specific leads for work. They must pay whether or not they make any money on the job. And they sometimes must pay for dozens of leads before one leads to a successful contract. We thought there must be a better way.

Cape Cod Contractors has developed a simple new business model for job referrals.

1. Our contractors pay us nothing for a job lead unless they enter into a contract with a client.
2. Our contractors get a free blog for each client contract, so both the client and the contractor can monitor and document progress on the job.

Since you are on the Cape Cod Contractors website, you are in good hands, but you might like to know how people usually find contractors. Feel free to consider these alternatives if you have not done so already.

Word-of-Mouth

Nearly half of all projects signed by contractors are the result of client referrals. An additional one-fifth of jobs are the result of word-of-mouth referrals. Consider these sources for leads:

• relatives
• friends
• neighbors
• business associates
• lenders
• architects/designers
• real estate agents
• suppliers
• subcontractors
• local material suppliers (Home Depot, Lowes, hardware stores, specialty product companies, etc.)

Other sources:

• Job site signs: Pay particular attention to homes with signs from their contracting company on their lawn. Is the site clean? Are tools and materials being handled in a responsible manner? Are there dust covers over the owner's belongings to protect them?

• Direct Mail: Some contractors will send direct mail to homeowners within a few blocks of a current job. Call and ask the homeowner if you could tour the project with the contractor.

• The Media: Look for articles about local contractors. Look for home improvement columns in your newspaper, radio, and TV talk shows (e.g., This Old House).

• YouTube videos: More and more contractors are making videos showing them at work. This is a way to learn about the boss of the company, though the particular crew that works on your job may be entirely different. Just enter a search phrase for your job.

• Seminars: Attend local seminars on home improvement topics. Some firms host free seminars on how to choose a contractor and other interesting remodeling topics. Check your local newspaper community news section for information.

• Home Shows: This is a good place to gather information about companies and to make an initial contact with the contractors. Make an appointment to meet with them at their place of business or in your home.

• 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.

• Ask contractors for references and visit some of their past jobs to look at the quality of their work and to speak to customers.

• 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.
  • Budgeting tips to help your planning.
  • Warning signs to look for during interviews.
  • How to select a professional.

If your job is highly specific and involves only one trade - carpenter, plumber, electrician - you will probably hire a licensed sub-contractor who will do the whole job. But you have the responsibility for deciding what gets done and where - where to put the outlets and switches, for example. For jobs that need multiple tradespeople and more extensive planning, the general contractor coordinates the sub-contractors and ensures that they show up at the right times in the right order. You may think that you can save money by doing this yourself, but it is very costly if sub-contractors show up and the job is not ready for them, or some work needs to be undone for them to do their work. Although the general contractor coordinates the work, you are still responsible for what gets done, unless you have a designer. A designer/builder provides both design and construction services within the same company. A design/build contractor will be able to see your project through from start to finish, keeping design, engineering and budget in mind. Major remodeling projects require construction drawings as a part of the contract and for procurement of building permits. If your general contractor does not provide design and engineering services, you may need a professionally trained architect.

A good written contract is an essential part of your job. It ensures that all parties involved agree to the same vision and scope for the project. It should be one of the first items on your contractor-customer blog.

Here are some details to look for before you sign your contract:

• Be sure the contract includes the contractor's name, address, phone and license numbers.

• Specific details of what the contractor will and will not do. If something is not mentioned, it probably won't be done.

• A list of materials for the project, including size, color, model, brand name and product.

• An approximate start date and substantial completion dates.

• Study all required plans carefully. Insist that you approve them and that they are identified in your written contract before any work begins.

• Make sure payment terms are understood and clearly spelled out. The total price, payment schedule, and any cancellation penalty should be clear.

• A warranty covering materials and workmanship for a minimum of one year should be written into the contract. The warranty must be identified as either "full" or "limited." The name and address of the party who will honor the warranty (contractor, distributor or manufacturer) must be identified. Make sure the time period for the warranty is specified.

• A binding arbitration clause is also a good inclusion in the event a disagreement occurs. Arbitration may enable you to resolve disputes without costly litigation.

• Never sign an incomplete contract.

• You might consider having a legal professional review the contract before it is signed.

• In any case, review the entire contract and be certain you understand it before signing.

• Always keep a copy of the final document for your records. Our contractors can upload it to your private blog for a permanent record.