How to find the right contractor for your home improvement project

Now that the weather is cooling off, thoughts turns to changes and adjustments of our living spaces. Most of us don’t really want to make an addition to the house or tackle a do-it yourself project like making a kitchen or bedroom bigger.

Even the thought of redoing that tired bathroom by ourselves is intimidating.

A friend wisely told me the difference between him and a plumber was “experience and a truck full of parts just outside.” It was sage advice indeed.

This embodies the wisdom of hiring professionals to do the work around the house, assuming we get the right “professionals.”

There are several ways we can look for contractors. One of the most common is to talk to friends and acquaintances and get a list of who they have used in the past. This can work very well for lower budget operations. Replacing a toilet or sink, painting a room or two are pretty simple jobs that almost any professional can do. But how do we find a builder to expand our house, a kitchen designer to refurbish our old space or a multi-talented group to completely redo a tired bathroom?

Ratings

We can talk to contractors and construction outfits all day but are we expert enough to really tell who is good? Which one will satisfy our needs? Which ones will be like pouring money down a rathole? To find that out, we can go and use one of the miracles of our age, one of the many rating services that compile user experiences and report on contractors. Just make sure it’s the right one.

There are a lot of rating services so we have to be careful. Avoid rating sites that contractors pay to join and potential customers use for free. These are not what we are looking for. We want the exact opposite, the ones where the customers pay and the contractors have as little to do as possible with the site. We are looking for real reviews from actual customers so we get the best possible information. Everything else is just advertising.

Angie’s List

I will tell you we have always been pleased with the contractors and services we found on Angie’s List. We’ve had a basement remodeled, a furnace and air-conditioning system replaced and a generator installed, all with good solid intelligence from Angie’s List. Of course we ask our friends and neighbors, but then we go to Angie’s list and check.

Why trust Angie’s List?

With all the phony or questionable ratings services out there, why trust Angie’s List? Mostly because it’s not just a list, it’s an outfit that actively investigates reviews and pursues contractors and services who receive complaints. There are no anonymous reviews on Angie’s List, you have to provide your identity and information. The list checks out reviewers and if any are contractors or their employees, family or friends in disguise, then it’s into the dreaded “penalty box” for all to see. The same thing happens if a contractor fails to respond adequately to the Angie’s List complaint resolution process. That’s a process that users can trigger when they are unhappy with the work they receive using the list’s recommendations. We trust them because their recommendations have always turned out solid and trustworthy.

There is one way a contractor can spice up their listing on Angie’s List — they can offer discounts and coupons. However only “A” or “B” rated outfits that have been in good standing for at least a year are accepted. It’s a nice way to save a few bucks on an excellent contractor.

Who’s on Angie’s List in our area?

We are very lucky to live where we do. We have oodles of great contractors to choose from. In remodeling contractors, there is everyone from JMC Home Improvement Specialists to Monks Home Improvements (I have used Monks). In electricians, there is Superior Wireworks, Espositos Electric and about 10 more with more than 20 reviews each, all rated A” and all close by. For heating and cooling (HVAC) there are at least 8 with more than 20 recent reviews, all rated “A”, everyone from Air Group (we used them) to BDP Plumbing and heating. There are hundreds of other categories so it’s best to check out the list yourself. I ranked them by recent reviews and within 10 miles of my house, so your results may differ.

Bottom line

Nothing is better than experience to judge any contractor. Although all the reviews are from real people who have actually used these providers, it’s always best to read the reviews. Each reviewer approaches the reporting from their own experience, which may differ from how you may perceive things. Some reviewers may seem overly picky or demanding and some may come across as a little too free with their praise. You be the judge. All of it is good information so, have at it. It’s important to note here that Angie’s List now lists healthcare providers as well, which is a wonderful way to find the medical services you need in a confident way.

Do you have a contractor recommendation in Morris? Email EAbreu@GannettNJ.com

Prentiss Gray’s weekly column will provide tips and advice on how to make your life better in Morris County. Read “Domestitech” every Thursday in The Good Life section of the Daily Record.

SEE PREVIOUS COLUMNS:

Column: Take your friends with you when you go http://dailyre.co/1FhJcg4

Flooring: Something to stand on http://dailyre.co/1iQFiAj 

Morris homeowners: Tips for designing your new kitchen http://dailyre.co/1EXgwIA