Contractor Tips For Working With Home Owners
May 21, 2005 by Mitch Groeter

Whether it’s doing a renovation project or building their dream home your clients are under stress! Most of them have had little experience or bad experiences with hiring contractors for their projects and they will have questions and concerns throughout the project.

It all starts when they are choosing a contractor which involves more than just shopping for price. The selection of a contractor is more or less the same as choosing a school for their children or finding a good doctor.  They need to know something about your track record and they need to feel a level of comfort going forward with their project with you and your company.

What to do to improve your chances of being selected for the job.
• Return calls for bids back promptly!
• Showing up for the bid appointment on time is also key.
• Offer to show them a copy of your current contractor's license.
• Show them workman's compensation certificates.
• Have an original insurance liability certificate on hand from your insurance agency.
• Provide every potential client with a list of references and make sure those references are fully aware that they are on this list and have agreed to being on it.
• Be able to prove how many years you have been in business.

What to do to improve your chances of staying on the job to completion.
• Treat client’s home and property with respect.
• Be sure and wipe your feet as you enter the home!
• Deal with the client with integrity and deal with changes fairly.
• Try to stay as close to your original quoted price as possible.
• Have a signed agreement that maps out the project from start to finish.
• Make sure subcontractors will conduct themselves the way you expect them to.
• Clean up to their satisfaction when the work is completed even if you have to hire an outside source.
• Make sure that the person supervising the job knows what they’re doing even if that isn’t the company’s owner.
• When you are finished and you have received the last payment from the client be sure and ask them if they would hire you again and if they are willing to be a reference for you and your company’s work.

Home Project Central, Inc. a web based free consumer service where you can find, locate and contact local contractors, home improvement professionals and suppliers for your next home project. This web search engine offers consumers a one stop resource to help get connected and begin dialogue for their next home project. To download a reader friendly version of these Tips..."Begin The Dialogue" www.GoToHPC.com

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