The roof of your multi-family unit has been through a hail storm and you can see the damage without even having to climb on a ladder. Your insurance company is willing to pay for repairs, but you have to submit a bid of how much it’s going to cost from a professional contractor. So what do you look for in a contractor, and what questions should you ask? Well, below are some suggestions to help you:
- First of all, ask other business owners who they use or if they have any suggestions. Sometimes finding the right contractor is done by finding someone who comes with a personal reference from someone you know.
- When checking contractors, verify licenses and see if they are bonded. Also ask if companies have property insurance, Workers Compensation Insurance and general liability insurance.
- Ask for references so that you can call and see what the past customers thought of the work done and if service was provided in a timely manner.
- Make a verification that the contractor and any sub-contractors being used have state business filings which are up-to-date and applicable. Also run criminal background and sex offender checks on both the contractor and subcontractors. You’re hiring people that will be around your tenants and possibly the tenant’s children.
- Finally, run a check and see if there are any civil judgments or liens against the contractor or if the business has any financial problems.
In addition, you’ll want to ask what experience the contractor has had with hail damage. You will also want to know how long the contractor has been in business, and what is the contractor’s work-style. So does the contractor work weekends? How late does the contractor work? Will the contractor take on other jobs while doing the work you need to be done? Ask any question that you feel you need to have answers to in order to feel that this is the person you want to work with.
When hiring a contractor, you really need to know what questions to ask and to always check references.