5 Helpful Tips on How to Select a Home Improvement Contractor

  1. Determine whether or not the contractor is qualified to perform the home improvement or repair that you are requesting.

The licensure and specialty designations that the contractor has will help you determine whether or not they have the appropriate credentials. Contractor Licensing in Virginia is broken into 3 categories: A, B, and C.

M&W Home Pros is proud to inform you that we possess a Class A contractor’s license with specialty designations of HIC (Home Improvement Contracting) and RBC (Residential Building Contracting)

Board of Contractor Regulations place limits on the scope of work that Class C and Class B contractors may perform. However, Class A Contractors like M&W Home Pros, are not limited in the size or dollar amount of the contracts on which they bid and must also pass examinations proving aptitude in both general and specialty specific contracting knowledge.

  1. Determine whether or not the contractor has the appropriate insurance required for the work to be performed.

It is imperative for a contracting company to carry liability coverage. While it is typical for a contracting firm to have $1,000,000 worth of liability insurance, M&W Home Pros makes sure to have twice the coverage of the industry average at $2,000,000.00. We are more than happy to add each homeowner as additionally insured on our policy prior to the start of any project.

It is also extremely important that any laborers and trusted subcontract installers carry the appropriate insurance policies to shield the homeowner if anyone is injured on their property. M&W Home Pros ensures that anyone performing work on a homeowner’s property is protected from head to toe.

  1. Contractor Interviews

The relationship between contractor and homeowner must be one of trust and honest communication. We suggest inviting a few different contractors to meet you and inspect the project. The contractor you decide upon should be knowledgeable, informative, respectful, presentable, prepared, and give you a strong sense of competency.

The world of contracting is competitive and homeowners should not have to “settle” if any of the above qualities are lacking in a contractor. There’s no second chance at a first impression and homeowners should remember that they are conducting a job interview. The contractor needs to convey that he can provide you the customer service, quality craftsmanship, and ease of communication that you deserve.

M & W Home Pros offers an honest, straightforward, and pressure-free communication process. We do not engage in high-pressure tactics such as sales presentations that last for hours, steep discount gimmicks following a sky-high initial price, or the demand that work be committed to immediately. Seldom will there be a situation when supply price changes result in a significant increase of the project cost to the homeowner. At M&W, we provide the homeowner adequate time to think about and accept the project proposal before beginning construction.

Trust your instincts. We here at M&W Home Pros sincerely hope to be the right firm for any of your home improvement projects.

  1. Compare Estimates and Proposals

Comparing proposals can be difficult. No two contractors will ever word their proposals the exact same way, so it’s important that you get DETAILS. Whenever relevant or possible, insist on more details rather than fewer. It is possible that when there are large price discrepancies between the proposals of separate contractors, very different solutions are being offered.
Requiring project specifics will minimize confusion when comparing the proposals that contractors submit to you for consideration. You as the homeowner will have less stress about undertaking a project if the details are spelled out clearly on the contract.

M&W Home Pros goes to great lengths to provide as much detail as possible to make sure that the homeowner can be confident that they are getting exactly what they want.

  1. Help your Contractor Help You

When you have found the contractor that you trust to undertake your home improvement endeavor, and are comfortable that your best interests are at heart, offer as much information as possible. Describe your plans for the home improvements you hope to complete in the future, as your contractor can give you some budget numbers to help you plan. Your contractor can assist you in putting the right sequence of events to best control costs over the long run.

Explain your budget limitations, if any. This will help the contractor to offer solutions tailored to what you can afford and offer the most cost-effective solutions. M&W is here to consult with you to achieve your home improvement vision while maximizing your return on investment.