Last summer, I hired a contractor for the very first time. I knew all the basic advice — get references, drop the highest and lowest bids — but past that I was overwhelmed. I eventually found a great contractor thanks to one piece of sensible advice.
"Hire the one you get along with best."
It may seem obvious (and in retrospect I may have eventually realized it) but at the time, it was well-needed wisdom. My kitchen designer Becky gave me the advice when she noticed me panicking. I'd read Marcia's great post on hiring a contractor, called friends who had worked with contractors, compiled references, scoured Angie's List, and interviewed people. I'd finally narrowed the list to three candidates, all of whom were good choices. And then I froze — which one was the best?
Once she said that, I knew immediately — it was the low-key one who was kind and straightforward. It was not the hyper-opinionated, slightly bossy one who — while knowledgeable — would likely drive me nuts. And four months and five projects later (the last one completely unexpected), I'm thrilled with my decision. We haven't had a single issue. We're similar enough that we see eye-to-eye on how things should be done, work well together, and can chat amiably at 7:30 in the morning. He calls us to talk about updates and scheduling regularly and has made some welcome recommendations. Our home looks great and everything has been clicking right along.
Obviously, you need to do all the legwork first and not rely solely your gut, But once you've narrowed your choices, don't second guess yourself. This person will be in your home for a while, and getting along with him or her will help immeasurably.
More Advice on Hiring a Contractor
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- How to Find a Good Contractor
- How to Work with a Contractor and Not Get Ripped Off
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Hey guys, there is no verb in this sentence:
"My kitchen designer Becky said when she noticed me panicking."
Its such a distraction that I quit reading the post. Please hire an editor.
We did just that for our energy-efficient gut rehab. Being that we were in contact 5-6 times during the day with a daily meeting at the house, we had to be compatible. We're still good acquaintances, had little issues, and it made everything go very smoothly.
WOW. I just really enjoy this site. I feel no need to constantly point out errors and problems. Keep up the good work Apartment Therapy!
Dear lazy_lurker,
Please hire an editor. The verb there is "said." When you said there was no verb in the sentence, it was such a distraction that I quit reading your post. :)
P.S. Looks like she forgot 2 tiny little letters: it. "My kitchen designer Becky said IT when . . ." No big whoop. Call off the guards.
I would never automatically drop the highest and lowest bids, especially in light of what you wrote. If the highest-bid person did what I considered to be the best work, I could afford it, and I got along with that person, then there is the person I would hire. You have to live with the results for a long time, and while money is a consideration (unavoidably) if it is the only consideration then you are selling yourself and your space short.
Harrumph! A typo! Well I never! Someone refund Lazy_Lurker's money immediately!
(one more for Lazy Lurker): IT'S such a distraction (not "its").
@ SQ - Well played!
I will never understand people's need to constantly point out things that DON'T MATTER. Seriously.
Great post and great advice! No verb in that one either!
I think the poster may have just gotten lucky. Sometimes the smoothest, easiest to get along with are the cons. I'd go the old fashioned way. Get references, and check them. Visit the references, and make sure the contractor does as he says.
Drop the highest and lowest bid -- why? For what reason? Just because?
This is great advice...
@Village, she did all of the things you suggest and more and ended up with multiple candidates. Then she chose the one she got along with.
Wasn't this a plot device in Under the Tuscan Sun? Good advice on the temperament thing. Quotes are just campaign promises in the evolution of a remodel, tho. My device, sadly: Solid references are solid gold. A contractor who shows up and doesn't steal is worth double the rate of someone who does. Don't feel like you're getting ripped off by paying more, you're paying more not to get ripped off. Best of luck to all of you!
This is such a good piece of device. When you have renovations done, you have strange people inside your house from 6:30am to late afternoon. If I didn't like my contractor, this would be a form of Hell. Plus, there are an infinite number of small decisions and also glitches to be dealt with during any renovation and it's just essential that you be able to talk about them with someone you like and trust.
Just be careful, if they're a little TOO easy to get along with....some of the best con men are.
(and haha at the grammar police)
Having used many many contractors I'd also ass that people need to do more research than just using Angies List. I like to use google to research the company as well as other contractor review sites like Remodeleze.com and Networx.com as well as finding the companies facebook page or other social profiles when possible. Trust me - when you're paying to have something done right (even inexpensive repairs when done incorrectly can cause more damage, costing you more $$ when done incorrectly) doing all the research you can will save you more pain and money and the long run.
Seriously 'hire an editor'.. WTF?? and start charging readers because our favourite FREE blog now has to pay money for an editor! And i totally agree with hiring someone based on their attitude and nature (if they have the skill to back it up of course!).
Although I think it is nice to like your contractor, the con men make themselves likable so you'll hire them. Then they take advantage of you liking them by counting on you forgiving their missteps or going over budget.
It is much easier to get mad (when you need to) at a guy who is only so so.
Strange how people seem to miss the "all of whom were good choices".
And any internet site has the advantage of being easily corrected. The correction made made it easier to read, for sure.I've been reading paperbacks with many typos, which obviously can't be corrected for the books I've bought. That's much more annoying, but I still enjoy the book.
My *device* is that you *ass* people to review their comments before posting.
1) Grammar DOES matter.
2) Should be: My kitchen designer Becky gave me the advice when she noticed MY panicking.
3) Thanks for the good advice in the post.
Hi all - just chiming in to say that grammar does matter! I just missed a word while writing and reviewing my post. I'm very sorry to have cause anyone consternation, but I stand by my advice. :)
I wonder what this has to do wirh cleaning a cutting board???