When getting ready to hire a contractor, Phoenix homeowners should always “get 3 estimates.” Isn’t that what we’ve always been told? It’s how your parents always hired someone. And it’s what the media says to do. It’s how we protect ourselves from shysters, right? We get three bids, and take the lowest or the middle, never the highest. But is this really the best way to choose a contractor? Seems like it’s still a bit of a crap shoot because anyone can put on a good face until you hire them. See the Insider tips below to possibly save yourself some time and effort –and maybe even heartache.
Get 3 Water Feature Estimates
You want to add a water feature to your outdoor environment. Time to shop. We all know the routine: First, you spend time calling around to every contractor in the area, and then waiting for a return phone call (because you know how contractors are), and maybe even playing phone tag for a few days, or weeks, because you’re busy, too.
Let’s say you find three contractors that actually return your call in a reasonable amount of time. Now, you have to schedule appointments with each one, and wait at home for them to show up. That’s IF they show up.
Let’s assume they do show up. They do a little tap dance for you, spill their dump truck of “expertise,” expound all their ideas about what THEY think you want, and promise to get you an estimate “right away.”
Then, a week, or two, later, you get the estimate. It’s vague and ambiguous, and you’re not sure you remember exactly what you talked about – because you talked to three people.
And let’s assume that all three actually do send you estimates. Can you tell if they’re all bidding the same thing, or did they all have different ideas of what you should do? Can you compare apples to apples, or are you looking at apples and oranges? Did they all include everything you were asking for?
And just getting three estimates DOES NOT guarantee that you’ll choose the right contractor. Unfortunately, I speak from personal experience here.
Might there be an easier way to deal with this shopping process? Yes!
Use The Technology
This is the technology age, where all the information you want is only a click away. With very little effort and a couple of hours of reading – on your own schedule, you can become knowledgeable enough that you can get three estimates just from three phone conversations. Better yet, if you do your due diligence BEFORE you contact a contractor, you might not have to go through the arduous and time-consuming task of getting three estimates at all, but will know who you want to hire before you pick up the phone.
Insider tip: Before beginning your investigation, make sure you’re clear in your own mind on who you’re looking for, and what you want to see and hear from them. For example, if you want a pond, do you want a contractor that installs living ecosystems, or are you more interested in a sterile environment? If you’re looking for flooring, do you want someone who specializes in eco-friendly, renewable resources, or just the cheapest thing you can get that looks pretty good because you’re going to sell this house in a few years?
Licensing
This is the FIRST think you should check! Make sure the contractor you’re considering is licensed with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. In Arizona, contractors must be licensed and insured. Check to see if they have any complaints, resolved or unresolved.
Insider tip: Don’t just assume that a contractor is bad because they have a complaint. People are rather litigious these days, so read through the documents to make sure that the person isn’t just blowing smoke or spouting sour grapes about something that the contractor had no control over. And read the company’s response to make sure that it was handled in a professional and civil manner.
Online Reviews
You can get a good read on a company simply by checking out what other people think of them. There are A LOT of sites where you can check someone out: Facebook, Google, Houzz, Hometalk, Angie’s List, Yelp, Thumbtack, etc.
Insider tip: if a company has NO less-than-stellar reviews, they may be faking it, so take a REAL close look. No one is perfect, and there are bound to be at least one or two misunderstandings in real life.
Website Content
What’s their website look like? Do they even have one? Does it look nice, like someone cares and keeps it current? Does it appear that they have systems in place for working with their clients? Is their website all about sales, or is there good information being presented? Can you read about THEM, their story, their company culture, etc.? Does it make you feel comfortable with them?
Do they have a photo gallery for you to peruse? And don’t just look at the pretty pictures. If you’re looking at an outdoor home improvement, analyze the photos a bit to make sure that they represent the contractor’s work here in Arizona. Believe it or not, some people may have stolen photos of other contractors’ work, or the photos may have been taken in New York, and they have little to no experience with our Sonoran desert environment.
Do they have a blog with good current content? Read through some articles and see if they appear to be an expert in their field. Are they saying what you want to hear? Is the information kept current, or did they post their last blog article a couple of years ago? Do they have a mailing list that you can join until you’re ready to take the purchase leap, and do they send out regular informational mailings?
If this home improvement is something that requires occasional maintenance, does this contractor provide that service? If not, you might want to ask yourself why not?
Insider tip: the “we’re too big to do maintenance” is a cop-out; maintenance is the bread and butter of a business that thinks long-term and cares about keeping in touch with their clients beyond the initial installation.
Have a Phone Conversation
Now that you’ve done your research, you may have narrowed it down to just one contractor. Or maybe you have 2 or 3 that you’d like to talk to. Call them. And have an HONEST conversation with them. Tell them what you want. Are they really listening to you, or are they telling you what THEY want to do? Do you feel that they care about what you’re saying? Do they value themselves? Can they do what you want within the budget you’ve set?
Insider tip: Beware the contractor who wants to run right out and give you a “free” estimate without first having a conversation with you to make sure they’re a good fit. A lot of contractors spend hours and hours running all over town to give free estimates, to the detriment of being able to provide good service to paying clients — there are only so many hours in a day, after all. You don’t want someone who spreads themselves too thin right from the get-go. What will the rest of the experience be like? And, let’s face it, nothing in life is “free.” The paying clients are covering the contractor’s time visiting the “tire kickers.”
In this day and age, most reputable contractors do charge a “consultation fee.” Not only does this weed out the people who want to pick their brain and then do the job themselves, but it avoids having to charge more to their clients for those other folks. It also ensures that you are considered a “client” and not just a “prospect,” so you know they’re going to show up when they say they will and take you seriously. This is actually the final step in the shopping process, when you’re comfortable with the contractor, and are ready to move forward.
What Pond Contractor to Hire in Arizona
As a water feature specialist, The Pond Gnome knows who does good work in this town. The biggest Insider tip in this article is to check out these folks if you’re looking to hire a water feature contractor. Although they each may have a different philosophy on water feature construction methods and artistry, we know that they are reputable contractors.
The Pond Gnome services Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Arizona (AZ) & Surrounding Areas
