References You Should Check Out

You have probably heard this before - “no one will ever give a bad reference.”

But what if you get a “luke warm” or “unenthusiastic” reference? That should be a warning sign.

If you want to add an addition for extra space, or if you want to update with a new kitchen, a new bathroom, a finished basement, or you want to improve the layout and enjoyment of your entire home with a whole house remodeling project please thoroughly check out the contractor’s references before you sign.

Any remodeling company should be able to come up with at least 3 good references but is that really an indication of consistent excellence?

Here is a better strategy.

• Ask for 15 references including the last 3 completed projects.
• Call each one of them and ask 5 to 8 questions. We have included some questions you may want to consider at the bottom of this page.

Sure this will take some work but you will likely eliminate all but the best contractors. Isn’t that what you really want to do?

Harbour Towne Construction has been consistently recognized for excellence in remodeling. We provide a list of over 50 references and we want you to call as many as you like.

Ask the tough questions about timeliness, adherence to the agreement, clean up or anything else you would like. We want you to become the next client that is added to our reference list.

A Simple Approach to Check the References
of Any Home Remodeling Contractor

Most homeowners want to check references but they find that it is a challenge to come up with the questions.

The questions below were created by a company that has spent years advising and educating both homeowners and residential contractors on professional business practices.

They recommend that you prepare a list of 5 to 8 questions to ask each person you call. Your goal should be to get ratings on the contractor’s timeliness, quality, cleanliness, adherence to price and professionalism. It is also very important to confirm what type of project that the contractor completed. Being prepared for the reference calls will give you a quick way to determine who is better.

Suggested questions you may want to ask:

• Did they start on the date indicated in the agreement?
• Did they leave your home in satisfactory condition each day?
• Was the price quoted what you paid? If not, why not?
• How did they handle issues that came up during the project?
• Were they always courteous to everyone in your home?
• Would you - or have you - recommended them to someone else?
• Why did you choose them and not the other guys?

Add any other questions that are important to you to this list.

Last thought…it is a smart idea to ask for business references from the contractor’s bank and 3 suppliers. Contractors that pay their bills on time get preferential service and pricing from their suppliers and this helps them stay competitive and keep your project on schedule.