Hiring Professionals

The best way to find qualified professionals is through word of mouth and referrals from family, friends and colleagues. The Internet also provides information on potential service providers, though you will need to do research to ensure they are qualified and have the skills to meet your needs. Professional trade associations are another viable option for locating competent help.

Questions to ask potential service providers include:

• Has s/he worked with clients with space rehabs similar to yours? If so, how many, and for how long? If possible, review their work samples. Is the appearance of these projects similar to your own goals and vision?
  
  
• Is it possible to speak with some of their past clients? Ask for references from 3-5 recent clients to gain valuable insight into this professional's work habits and skills. While ability is important, personality conflicts can also derail your project or make the process unbearable.
  
  
• Who will work on the project? Who will supervise the work? How many workers will be on-site? If the person you are working with hires an outside trade professional, known as a subcontractor, to complete the electrical wiring or other work, find out who the subcontractor will be, and who will perform the actual work.
  
  
• How do they work? Find out about his or her work style and ethic. Will s/he provide weekly feedback on the project? Contact you primarily by email, phone or in-person? When is s/he available to speak with you about the project? What is their plan of action in the event that problems arise with the project? Will s/he point out where the project can be improved, and where cutbacks can be made? Or will they strictly do what you ask?
  
  
• What type of insurance does the professional service provider carry? Most business professionals carry general liability insurance to protect their property (and possibly yours) from damage. Have your service provider describe their coverage as it applies to your project. Although not required to do so, many architects and engineers also carry professional liability insurance -- similar to malpractice insurance for physicians -- to protect them from claims regarding errors with their work.
  

• What type of warranty does the contractor provide? The industry standard for a general contractor is to warranty his or her work for a period of one year. However, legal limitations on insurance preclude architects, engineers and designers from offering warranties. Some building products carry longer warranties, which are provided by the manufacturer. For example, a roofing product might have a 20-year warranty. Be aware that the contractor’s warranty is only for the material and labor that s/he provided. If you purchase a faucet yourself and have the contractor install it, then the contractor will not warranty the faucet, but may only warranty the labor and installation. In addition, product or contractor warranties may be void if the product is installed slightly “out of standard” (i.e. too many screws or nails, etc.). This can also be the case if a non-appointed third party (i.e. you) completes repairs to the product or adjusts it once your contractor has left. So, it may be wise to wait for the proper professional to repair the item.
  
  In the meantime, document, document and photograph. Documentation can entail keeping track of your complaints in writing and making sure your contractor has a copy of your complaints. Sending paperwork and complaints to your contractor via certified mail are also ways to ensure you have adequate documentation.
  
  
• How are you billed? Make sure you have an understanding how you will be billed before the actual work begins. Do you want to be notified if they begin to go over budget? Do you want a weekly update of how much has been spent? Do you want an itemized bill?

Some warning signs you should look for when interviewing a potential service provider include:

• You are pressured into signing a contract with scare tactics. For example, “This deal is good for the next 2 hours only!”
• Your requests for references are ignored or not readily offered.
  
• The references you receive cannot be contacted.
  
• You cannot verify their license and/or insurance.
  
• The professional does not have a portfolio of completed projects to showcase their work.
• The professional refuses or is vague about giving you a price quote.
  
• Unwillingness to sign a contract which includes the start and completion dates, remedies to delays, etc.
• Requiring an unusually large down payment for the job. More than 20% of the overall cost is a red flag.