Look At Past Work Before Hiring A Contractor

It's not always possible, but if you can, one of the best ways to ensure you're getting a good contractor is to look at work they've done in the past, or work they have in progress. The latter may, in fact, tell you more about how the contractor runs a job.

Even if you don't know a lot about construction, samples of work can still tell you a lot about how a contractor handles his or her jobs. The appearance of a work in progress or even a completed home job will really show off what the contractor can and cannot do.

When looking at completed works, especially full homes, here are some things to look for:

Look for major imperfections in the outside appearance. Are windows and doors level? Is the paint evenly applied? Does the landscaping look professional? Even though the contractor doesn't technically perform these duties, he or she oversees the jobs. A good contractor won't settle for less than perfection.
Inside the home, make sure walls look clean and even. If patches have been made in the drywall, are they visible? Is the tile in bathrooms and the kitchen properly sealed or does it have holes? Is every fixture properly affixed? Is the carpet laid correctly?
If you're in a home that's completely done and it has a homeowner, ask that person questions. Are they happy with the work?

A job in progress likely will tell you a lot, if you know what you're looking at. You may not get to see too much, depending on the stage of construction, but here are some overall things to look for:

Is the job site clean and well organized?
Have measures been taken to protect the property during construction?
Are workers working (unless it's break time)?
Are the subcontractors on the jobsite properly supervised? Do they know their trades?

Even if you don't know a lot about construction, looking at past jobs can tell you a lot about a contractor. Look for signs of professionalism and perfectionism. A good contractor won't accept cracked walls, poorly aligned cabinets, carpets with slight gaps at the wall lines and a lot of other "little things."

When it comes to building a whole house, adding on to one or even remodeling a room, it's the little details that matter. Your contractor should be an expert at the details.