Renovations to any kind of premises are never a common activity that any landlord would do, and it is thus all the more important to have the work in hand be attempted by the most competent workers. The building contractors are notorious for playing truant and for overbilling the customer. Thus it would be pertinent to consider a set of simple questions that could help identify the best siding contractor from among the many operating in the business.
These are by no means the most exhaustive aspects to a contractor's ability, but they do point to the overall competence of the worker at most times.
1 Where is the office located?
This would help identify the standing that the contractor has in the field of work. Of particularly noteworthy points are if the business is located in areas that are known of the cheap property rentals as this would indicate that the contractor has little financial stability. Sometimes the agent could be starting out in the business and would prefer to use some of the more affordable premises. Thus the common add-on act is to ask around as to how long the worker has been operating in the given field.
2. Could references be provided?
There are two aspects to this question. The first is that a contractor who has gone around executing works that are similar in nature to what is available at hand has the best chances to pull off a good job. The references are a good starting point to evaluate both the quality of execution as well as the overall competency of the builder.
The second point of concern while addressing the question is whether the contractor is freely willing to part with references. This could well point to the belief that the worker has in his own ability and more importantly, give out the goodwill he does have in the field.
3. How comprehensive are the quotes?
One of the first steps to follow when engaging contractors is to ask for a non-binding estimate for the work at hand. The manner in which the estimate is prepared out would give out the competency levels of the agent. It would on most occasion be able to tell how well versed the contractor is in work at hand. With the better estimates giving the full detailed narration of the work, it would take a certain level of competency to make out a good quote.
One of the conventional methods used by workers and including the siding contractor is to leave some terms of reference ambiguous. This would provide as an opening to add on costs at a later stage of the work. It would be proper to ask up front as to what is explicitly covered in the estimate and what constitutes the extra billing works.
4. Is the contractor bonded?
There is more to getting bonded than just to take out an insurance policy. The most professional contractors make it a point to limit the damages arising out of accidents and poor craftsmanship by using insurance. Most of the bodies that do provide coverage to the worker do insist on a certain minimum level of competency and is thus an excellent way to gauge the actual ability of the worker.
Subsequently, a bonded contractor is bound to be protected against any adverse acts. Thus the customer faces the least risk when it comes to any kind of deficiencies in the execution of work or the final rendering of the contract.
5. What is the size of the crew?
This would be an appropriate question when extraordinarily large contracts are being awarded. Often if the agent does not have the necessary manpower to have a specific job done, it would be best to avoid such folks. The chances of the work getting completed within the stipulated time period would be somewhat remote.
While on the topic of the size of the crew, it would only be right to ask around for the kind of equipment that is available with the contractor. Some of the more specialized work would need specialized tools, and this point must be given the due weight.
6. How is customer complaints dealt with?
With a large number of contractors, they do provide mere lip service to issues that the customer raises. The excellent worker should have a well-defined procedure for the customer to be heard regarding any aspect of the executed work. Often it is when the points raised by the customer is evaluated for further action that the quality of workmanship improves.
If in the first instance, the agent has the tendency just to sweep an issue that the customer raises under the carpet; such workers should be avoided at all costs. The chances of survival for these individuals are not so bright.
7. Does the siding contractor use visualization tools?
The modern design practices use automation tools in no small part, and thus it would be proper for the contractor to use some form of visualization aids to present an accurate picture of the finished work before undertaking the project. Therefore the customer need not wait for the completion of the tasks to get to know how the effort ends up as.
The most notable feature with visualization tools is that they are one of the most affordable aides for the siding contractors. It is possible to find a range of popular software tools which can be chosen according to the work at hand and the budget available with the contractor.
8. What does it take to maintain the final job?
Few people would pay attention to the maintenance part to a siding work. Often the cheap works would work out expensive to keep in shape. Thus the work to the siding must be approached with a balance that would not just ensure a good quality job but something that is manageable to maintain. It does stand to reason to use methods that do last a good while as re-works are not just expensive but time-consuming too.