Contractor Red Flags To Avoid Before Signing

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We hear on the news, Facebook and in friend groups the nightmares that many homeowners have gone through with construction companies. While there is no guarantee on how to catch a subpar contractor before signing the dotted line, there are many red flags to look out for. Below is a list of signs to look out for when choosing a contracting company.

 - Promising Perfection:

An honest contractor will tell you that everything doesn’t go perfectly on the job. When working with an old home, you don’t always know how severe the damage will be. One sign of a contractor that may be sweeping things under the rug is avoiding the past bad moments when asked. Every company has had a bad project or ten, but what really counts is what they do to correct the issue and keep the customer happy.

 - Haggling:

Anyone who has ever bought a car or home can tell you that there is always room for negotiation and contracting is no different. A salesman’s job is to sell, so many will increase the cost to allow room for a drop off. If the drop off seems too good to be true, it most likely is. In some cases, a company can offer a discount for marketing or scheduling if production is slow, but this drop in price isn’t in the thousands of dollars. An honest contractor will give you their lowest number because they would like to give you a good product for a good cost, only allowing price drops at the expense of their commission or the company’s profit.

 - Efficiency Discounts:

Another sign of a contractor to avoid is one who offers you an efficiency discount. The script is basically “sign today or it’s thousands more tomorrow”. This tactic is used to gain more profit/commission and to land the deal on the first day and avoid being pushed aside for a more reasonable estimate. The only time you should sign with a contractor is when you believe the company is best for your project, and a good contractor will give you time to make that decision.

 - Low-Ball Quotes:

Many companies practice a strategy called “Lowballing”. This is used when the company knows there will be more costs to the project than needed but sells at a lower rate to get the deal and ask for thousands more while the project is underway. Any contractor worth their salts will go into the attic and walk the roof if possible and provide photos to prove their findings, while a lackluster salesman may not provide the same due diligence; a clear sign they do not value your hard-earned money as much as you do.

 - In Short:

There are many signs that a contractor may be looking for an easy payday, but what should you look for in a contractor? At first glance, you should look at their worst reviews and see what others have gone through with the company to decide to even give them the opportunity. During the appointment you want an honest contractor who does their due diligence during the inspection and provides you with a fair estimate with time to think about a sale that will cost you thousands of dollars. Setting the appointment with the right company could be the difference between another nightmare story for dinner with friends or finding the contractor you will always trust!

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