You’ve decided your next project is no small task and you need someone to come in and help. You do a local search for home repair in your area, and after seeing more than a thousand search results, you feel a little overwhelmed.
The home repair professionals can’t all be bad, right? That’s true, but unfortunately, not all are good. Here are some quick tips to help you to tell the fakers from the real pros.
- Where did you find them? Was it a verified, company-owned website, or was it a personals ad on Craigslist? While the random ad might claim they’ll save you some money, you don’t really know what you’re getting into.
- If they aren’t licensed and bonded, you run the risk of a job being done improperly and potentially not up to code, resulting in fines. You are also inviting a stranger with little to no credentials into some of the most personal and intimate parts of your home.
- What are their credentials? What do the reviews say? Are there reviews? Any legitimate professional should have a long list of reviews from satisfied customers. Don’t just look at the review’s stars, but at the content. Stars are an arbitrary ranking system, whereas the real information can be found in the comments.
- When you look at the comments, it is very easy to sort out the genuine from the fluff. Vague and broad statements should be read with an eyebrow raised, where ones that go into detail about their project and service can be taken more seriously. If it sounds like a robot is typing a response, it probably is.
- The guarantee. The promise. You don’t want someone who simply states “I fix things” or “Does home repair.” What is the thing they promise to deliver to you and to every single person they work with?
- What sets these professionals apart? If the answer is “not much,” why should you invest in them when you can get more elsewhere?
- Are they just trying to do a job, or are they actually trying to help? The right professionals not only know what goes into a successful job but also want to do a great job. They want to not only be there to make this job go as smoothly as possible, but want to be there for you any time you have a problem.
- You shouldn’t have to settle for someone who just wants to work; you should find someone who wants to take care of you. Someone who will be able to walk you through all of the steps of the job, making the job as painless as possible. If there are any additions to the project or necessary changes, a professional should be able to explain to you how and why the job has changed, and to follow your wishes to the next step.
With these simple tips, your search should narrow considerably. A sketchy company might meet one or two of these requirements, but it won’t meet all of them.
Just remember, a repair professional is there for you. You should never feel pressured or uncomfortable deciding what is best for you. If you do, stop the project.
That stress will only lead to more stress and to rash decisions you may pay for later.
With these steps in mind, it’s time to find the right person for the job and to get your project going!