During the summertime, your rental needs a little more maintenance than usual. Between landscaping, pool cleaning, and painting, you’ll probably have to hire some contractors to get all the work done. However, before hiring anyone, you need to make sure that they are qualified, honest, and reasonably priced. If you need to hire contractors this summer, here is how to make sure that you hire the best possible candidates.

 

Where To Find Contractors

 

Doing a quick Google search will pull up thousands of contractors in your local area. Sifting through all of these to find a qualified person can be overwhelming. There is a better way to find a highly skilled contractor. Start by asking around for referrals from people you know who have recently hired contractors. You can also ask your property insurance carrier. They work with a lot of certified contractors. You can also search referral websites like Angie’s List, Home Advisor, and Consumer Checkbook. 

 

How To Choose The Right Contractor

 

Once you have found a good source of contractors, you will want to begin interviewing. Interview at least three contractors for each job to make sure that you hire the best possible candidate. When interviewing make sure that you:

 

— Get A Bid: Make sure that each contractor gives you a bid for the job. This way you not only select a contractor in your price range, you can make sure that you know what the fair market value is for the work.

— Ask For Credentials: Some contractors require a high level of skills, training, and certification. Make sure to ask what qualifies them to do the work and obviously check their credentials.

 Check References: Ask all your contractors to bring references from previous jobs. A good contractor will be able to provide you multiple. Call their references and make sure to ask about their work quality, professionalism, and if there were any issues.

 Watch Out For Red Flags: There are many signs that your contractor is not a good hire. The Better Business Bureau has put together a pretty comprehensive list of “Contractor Red Flags” you can find here. If a potential contractor shows any of these signs, you should look at hiring someone else.

 

Selecting the right contractor will make sure that your property and pocketbook is protected. So follow these guidelines and if you need help, Occupancy Solutions is here. Contact us to learn more.