So you have decided to go with hiring out your project. Now we have to narrow down the list of Insulation Contractors to a few to get a good and honest estimate.
Know what you want:
Before approaching any Insulation contractors about your job, it is good to do a little research. Learning a few bits of lingo can go a long way. It shows the contractor you’ve done some leg work, and they wont have to start from scratch. It will allow you to be very specific, and you will be able to get the job done quicker.
Ask for referrals:
Most companies will have a website with a array of successful projects completed, and hopefully pictures of them. Although this may be all fine and dandy, you will want to ask around to your friends and family for referrals. Word of mouth is by far the best and most honest way to go on about this. Ask them what made this company stand out from the rest of the Insulation contractors; how they handled obstacles in the project, and how fair the pricing was when they got their estimate.
Credentials:
Ask for their credentials, this can all vary. You want to make sure they have the right licensing, insurance, and training to complete the job. It’s 2018, most companies will have a social footprint, which means with some simple preliminary research you can find reviews, along with honest testimonials of the contractor’s track record. Make sure that the credentials are solid, in most cases, making your home energy efficient can have some tax credits attached to them. Be sure to ask!
Interpret Price:
You’ve narrowed down your choice of Insulation Contractors and you are ready for that estimate. One thing to keep in mind is how price plays a role. You may be inclined to go with the lowest price, but that can be as bad as overpriced. As a general rule you want to get at least three quotes. Three quotes will be enough to give you the ball park of how much a quality contractor is willing to charge. If you don’t have an idea of where to start, check out our pricing suggestion post. Whether they stay within budget is something that can be researched through referrals or reviews.
Interview:
This can be as simple as an over the phone interview, but here’s where you ask all the important questions. You want to make sure they can make themselves available for any questions or concerns. Most of the best Insulation Contractors will stay busy, so you will have to gauge the importance of the situation. Be sure to compare apples to apples, you wouldn’t want to get a bid that includes cheaper materials, visit our R-Value guide for that.
Sign a detailed contract:
You will need to make sure the contract spells out everything that was agreed upon. In case of any changes or unforeseen situations an addendum and a change order contract should be approved on before the work is done. These contracts should specify everything from labor, to materials, down to the part number of the materials used.
Know what to pay and when to pay:
Do not pay more than 50% (certain occasions) before the job is started, the contracts should set a schedule payment for the job. If the job is big enough, it may include said schedule of payment. You do not want to be paying for the contractor to finish out someone else’s project. However, it is important to know your state regulations for any caps for down payments on any project. Make the final payment when 100% of the job is done, and you have all the receipts.