Before Hiring a Contractor
- Do they have a current State Contractor license?
This is important because contractors must prove to the State of MN that they have enough insurance, and it means they are serious about being in this industry. You can weed out the non-licensed guys right away. A link to look up a residential contractor is provided in the right side bar of this page (under the heading of "License Look-Up Link") or you may copy and paste the address to your browser. You may be surprised to see how many fence companies are not licensed.
MN Dept of Labor and Industry www.dli.mn.gov
Anybody can warranty materials for 5, 10, 20 years, but the labor is what costs money. A board replacement or a gate adjustment are minor material costs, but the labor with a trip charge can be $200.00 or more. A one year labor warranty is the same as nothing. It says to the customer that if a board falls off next summer, the new board is free; but the trip charge is $200.00 (does that sound like a good warranty?) Better contractors who build durable projects, will warranty everything for 5 or more years because they know that it will last.
Most consumer advocacy groups (BBB, Angie's List) advise paying 30% or less as a down payment. Be cautious of contractors who want more than that. Remember, this down payment reflects your commitment to the job, but the contractor hasn't performed any work yet. You have nothing to show for your commitment.
- Bad-mouthing other contractors?
Some sales strategies involve using negative images or language to discredit competitors. If this approach is presented to you, consider that the person engaging in this may not have enough good things to say about his own business. This type of approach may leave you with a sour outlook on the whole buying process. However, you are in control of your decision. Find out the facts for yourself at various consumer advocacy websites.
If you follow these steps, you may find that choosing your next contractor is quite easy.
Thanks for reading!
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