Consumers want contractors they can trust. They want a contractor who will give them a fair price, use quality materials, show up on time, complete work on schedule, and stand behind their work. Sounds simple but everyone has heard horror stories about shabby work, poor quality materials, unfinished or never started jobs, and additional unjustified charges.
So how can a homeowner find a qualified contractor? Previous experience or a referral from a trusted friend or neighbor is obviously the best bet but often that's not an option. So then what? In the best of all worlds, a consumer will ask for the contractor's license/ registration number, check out their license status, bonds and insurance, ask for references, call and verify the references, ask to see samples of the contractors work and materials to be used, require warranties, etc. But it's not a perfect world and many people have limited time and resources.
And there are sooo.. many types of contractors requiring different types and levels of skills: additions, bath and kitchen remodelers, cabinets, concrete foundations and flat work, counter tops, custom homes, decks, patios, duct cleaning, drain cleaning, electrical, fences, floor coverings, handyman, heating & cooling, insulation, painting, plumbing, general remodeling and renovation, roofing, tile, stone, siding, storage sheds, tree services, windows & doors, and window coverings to name a few.
Real world scenario - people search on line. But anyone can pay for a website, ad, directory listing or referrals. And many of the companies that would have you believe you can trust the contractors on their sites have rigged the system so that the contractors who have paid the most get the best ranking or get the top listings.
The other concern today is privacy. Most online referral companies want some kind of personal information from you. No one wants to get added to another email or phone list, but even if your information is kept private, how secure is it? It becomes more of an issue if you pay for the service and give out your credit card information.
At Responsible Contractors, we are trying to create a win-win for consumers and qualified contractors. It is a open resource directory where consumers can search for free without providing any personal information and find contractors that are licensed, bonded, insured with verified references of at least three satisfied customers. Qualified contractors who have completed the application process, benefit by getting calls from consumers who have serious interest in their services. Contractors are listed alphabetically in their specialty, city, and county areas.
http://www.ResponsibleContractors.com is a starting point, not a promise or a guarantee. Every project is different. Consumers should always verify that all information is current, the contractor is licensed to perform the job they are hired for, and work to be performed and materials to be used are in writing. Be a responsible consumer and use responsible contractors!
