04 Apr How Do You Choose the Right Contractor?
You have probably heard some nightmare stories from your friends about the last contractor they used. You may have also experienced a similar situation yourself. Perhaps you had a project for your house that you wanted completed and you hired a contractor who gave you the cheapest price and things either went south quickly or the end result left much to be desired. Maybe the quality of work wasn’t up to par, maybe the contractor didn’t understand your vision, or maybe they just flat out didn’t put enough time, care and attention into your project. How do you avoid this happening again in the future? How do you choose the right contractor?
There are many factors that you as a homeowner need to consider when making this choice. The main thing to consider though is PRICE vs VALUE. What is involved in this consideration? Let’s go over some things you need to think about when you consider these things.
Price vs Value
Everyone has a budget. Whether you are going big with your home project or looking into just doing something small or simple, you need to have a clear idea of what you are willing to spend. You also need to have a clear idea or a vision for your project. Since most people do not have the mind for envisioning projects before they are started, we often start by calling a professional.
It is important to have at least a vague idea of what you want when you consider price and value. To determine your budget you will need to have some idea of what you want done. Of course, the contractor can assist you with suggestions and ideas to carry out your vision, but what will the cost and level of quality be? These are important things to consider. It’s your money and your home, so you should take the time to research contractors.
It is a fact however, that people often get caught up in pricing. They see ads from contractors for the cheapest job or speak with a contractor that will beat the price of any other contractor. There are so many offers out there for the cheapest labor, the cheapest materials, and the cheapest prices! While these offers are definitely enticing – you must understand that if you Go Cheap, you are going to Get Cheap!
Unfortunately, it is definitely true that you get what you pay for – so it is wise to question why a contractor may be so much cheaper than others. How can they do the same project for so much less? Often the reason is because the quality and value of work suffers when it is offered at such a low cost. And while getting the cheapest job you can sounds great, DO NOT get fooled.
When considering a contractor for your home, make sure the contractor you choose cares just as much about the project as you do. For high quality craftsmanship and lasting work, you must understand that you have to pay for it. Pricing may be higher, but the quality cannot be beat.
A competent and reputable contractor that does quality work is often hard to find. Unfortunately many contractors just want to take on as many jobs as they can. They see you as $$$. They may not understand your vision or they may not put in the time and effort that your project requires. So when talking to different contractors, it is important that you feel comfortable with them. You should feel comfortable with them in price, but also in value. Ask yourself some of these questions:
- Does this contractor understand what I want done?
- Do they truly understand my vision for this project?
- Is he or she passionate about their work? Are they creative?
- What is this contractor’s reputation within the industry with his manufacturers and suppliers?
- Is their work recognized within the industry with awards or other acknowledgements?
- Do you feel they honestly listen to your concerns or ideas about your project?
- How do they carry themselves in the field? How do their workers present themselves?
Finding the right contractor can be stressful. At FX Design Team, we want to take that stress away from you. We pride ourselves in the value we bring to the table. Many times we do get asked why our prices are higher than other contractors. Simply put, it’s because we care. When we take on your project, we see it as our own project. Jeff and his crew want to help your visions become reality. We put care and attention to detail at the forefront of our services. We want to work with you to create an atmosphere and landscape at your home that you can be proud of, enjoy, and love.
With a history of award winning designs and projects, we offer a wide variety of landscape and hardscape services and we love to work with each homeowner to make them and their families happy and completely satisfied with the end result of their project!
Don’t get yourself into a situation that results in poor quality work, followed by a frantic search to fix things after hiring a contractor that doesn’t care. So don’t pull your hair out trying to find a contractor. Go with the FX Design Team for outstanding quality work, a great client/contractor relationship and communication, and an overall great experience on your next outdoor home project!