Home-Contractor-Directory.com: Tips On Finding a Good Contractor

1) That they have a license- If required by your state. You can check the website www.contractors-license.org for your state's requirements. Also call your state or local licensing board to verify the license number.

2) Liability insurance- You want to protect your home and property just in case damage is caused by the contractor or his employees.

3) Worker's compensation insurance- You don't want to be held responsible if someone is injured while working on your property. Make sure they have this.

4) Insured subcontractors- All specialists that the contractor hires should also have liability and worker's compensation insurance.

5) A clean record with the Better Business Bureau- Were any complaints filed against this contractor? If so, how many? Check out if there was a complaint, that it was resolved satisfactorily.

As a homeowner, I wanted an easy way to find a contractor to take care of my home improvement needs. I tried websites that matched you up with many contractors. I felt bombarded and didn't know the first thing about finding the "right contractor" for me. I also wanted to decide for myself which contractors I wanted to contact. I researched what was available, and concluded that both homeowners and contractors wanted more control in the process. That is how www.home-contractor-directory.com came to be.

Home-Contractor-Directory.com is exclusively a nationwide residential contractor directory. We offer a resource for homeowners to find home improvement contractors that suit their needs easily. Homeowners contact the contractors themselves. Contractors have the opportunity to promote their business on the internet inexpensively. This is an ideal way for homeowners & contractors to connect.

This is a new site, so keep an eye on us as we add more new contractors. Our contractors have customized profiles with details such as specialties and experience. Contractors also have a link to their websites if they have one.

No matter what the size of your home improvement project, your goal is to hire the "right Contractor" for the job. You certainly don't want to end up with a contractor that hardly shows up while the project is far from done, does shoddy work, or worse--get scammed out of a lot of money by a bad contractor.

Fortunately, only a small percentage of contractors are that unscrupulous. You just want to stay away from those kinds of contractors! That's why being cautious is wise. So before you let a total stranger come in and tear down your walls and make your once neat and peaceful home a construction site, there are things you should keep in mind to help you make a prudent decision. Most importantly, protect yourself!

Never Hire a Contractor That Does the Following:

• Lied about having a valid contractor's license for the type of work to be done, or has an expired license.
• Refuses to provide referrals. A legitimate contractor is always happy to name satisfied customers (with their permission, of course).
• Won't give you an established street address where they conduct business (a P.O. Box won't do).
• Promises you anything at any price. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Demands full payment upfront or wants you to pay cash.
• Intentionally low bids his legitimate competitors.
• Gives vague estimates without spelling out the specific work to be completed--this could cost you money.
• Pressures you to sign a contract today by using scare tactics ("limited-time offer")
• Asks you to obtain the necessary permits (it could mean the contractor is in bad standing with the local building department).
• Say they can save you money by using leftover materials from a previous job.
• Refuses to provide a written guarantee. Verbal guarantees are worthless.