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APRIL 2013 NIA BUILDERS LVA SY
IATION SOC AS
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Home Builders Association of Berks County
BES T IN PUBLIC STATE AT ION
Finding a Super Contractor! Tips & Tools for Making the Right Selection
Property Taxes: A Vexing Problem, A Practical Solution
Insights by Representative Jim Cox
How to Plan & Prepare for a Construction Project
FIND A SUPER CONTRACTOR! By Christian D. Malesic, MBA, IOM
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uper contractors are plentiful and easy to find when you approach the due diligence process with purpose and foresight. The largest ad in the phone book (print or digital), great website, handsome smile, or the cheapest price tell you nothing. Builders, remodelers, and trade contractors will work on your most valuable asset and prized possession -your home. More importantly, they will become your go-to expert and most trusted advisor in their area of specialty. So how do you find the absolute best craftsmen, most trustworthy business, and all-around SUPER contractor?
Start at the Very Beginning-A Very Good Place to Start Professional trade organizations, like the Home Builders Association of Berks County (HBA), are the best places to begin your search. The criteria for membership in these associations are stringent; therefore, only the most professional and ethical companies 4
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become members. What’s more, education and continuous improvement are in the members’ blood. They know about the latest building materials and gizmos on the market, understand permitting and inspections, and know the difference between a contract, change order, and punch list (and why each legally protects both of you during the course of your project, while keeping communication lines open).
There are many additional professional trade associations for specialty contractors that can also be used to aid in your search. Though the best-of-the-best excavators, plumbers, roofers, landscapers, etc. make it a point of joining their local HBA of Berks County (HBAberks.org), they often are also members of their specialty trade association to gain knowledge specific to their trade. A quick web search for the area you are researching followed by the words “trade association” is a great place to start. Thus, when looking for a kitchen designer, a web search for “kitchen trade association” will reveal the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Similarly, a search for “Electrician Trade Association” will
land you at the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC).
Is Bigger Better or Does Smaller Surpass? Just because a company has a bunch of employees, advertises heavily, or “has done 10 projects in your neighborhood” doesn’t mean that they have quality service or are proficient at the trades. On the other hand, smaller companies are not necessarily more detail-oriented or faster to respond just because they have fewer customers. There are good large companies and good small companies. You must determine which is right for you. As a rule, contractors who are constantly improving themselves and their businesses through continual education, training, and networking often make the best contractors (and their businesses come in all sizes). Let their credentials, experience, and expertise be your guide, not the size of their company. Gravitate toward
HBAberks.org I 610.777.8889
those contractors that are certified experts by outside trade associations or agencies. Consider more seriously those contractors that regularly attend trade shows and conventions in their industry. Education is paramount. Would you want a teacher teaching your children if she had never been to school herself ? Or an accountant without an accounting degree and the letters CPA (Certified Public Accountant) after his name advising you on your finances? Contractors have certifications, designations, and education as well.
Does this mean you should only consider those with letters after their names and education under their belt? Absolutely not! Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg all ran/run incredibly successful businesses without completing their education. They, however, are the exception, not the norm. Give education weight in your decision-making process.
for your ideas and suggest ways to make them work better? • Is customer service emphasized?
• Will they work within your budget constraints? Will they be honest when your budget is way less than the project will require? • Do they seem organized when you discuss the job with them? • Are their business materials neat, professional, and complete (business cards, flyers, website, etc.)? • Do they carry insurance to protect you from claims arising from property damage or job site injuries (get a copy of their insurance certificate, don’t just ask the question)? • Are they registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? Go to www.AttorneyGeneral.gov and see for yourself, don’t just ask the question.
How Do You Interview the Candidates?
• Do they offer a warranty?
Treat your research seriously and prepare for the process. After you build a list of potential contractor candidates,
How to Decide?
• Will they arrange for the construction permit? • Do they specialize in certain projects?
You probably already have a budget in mind, and know how much you are willing to pay. If not, maybe you are planning to “get three quotations and pick the lowest.”
spend time organizing your thoughts & preparing your questions before meeting with the first contractor candidate. At each interview, observe how each candidate reacts and responds. Don’t be afraid to take notes.
Some suggestions to get you thinking:
When you discuss what you’d like to
do, does the contractor show enthusiasm
DO NOT LET PRICE be the main reason you choose one contractor over another! Often the lowest bidder is cutting corners somewhere they shouldn’t. Would you want the lowest paid doctor operating on your child?... or the cheapest lawyer defending you in court? Make your choice based on service, knowledge, ability, and communication; not based solely on price. If you can’t afford to do it right, how can you afford to do it over? When you hire a contractor, you are buying a service and expertise rather than a product. The quality of service the contractor provides will determine the quality of the finished product and your satisfaction with it. Only choose
a contractor who returns your phone calls, answers your questions, and has a trustworthy reputation.
This is not a decision that should be solely based on whom you “like” the most or whom was the “nicest” or had the “best personality.” However, you will be working with the contractor and their team for an extended period of time; so, how you emotionally feel about them should have some weight in your decision-making process. Use your emotions, use your gut... just make sure your research and intellect have a bigger say in your final decision.
If you put as much time into selecting a contractor as you did in selecting and planning your last vacation or choosing if and where you or your children should go to college, you’ll make a good decision in the end. Plan for it. Spend time on it. Debate it with your loved ones. Then trust yourself that you made the right decision. Moreover, trust your contractor and their expert advice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Christian D. Malesic, MBA, IOM is the Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Berks County. He provides insight on construction issues, business operations, marketing, personal finance, and occasionally, on political philosophy/ history. Contact Christian at the HBA of Berks County office: Christian@HBAberks. org or, to receive notice of the newest articles written by Christian, follow him on Twitter @CDMalesic. april 2013 AT HOME IN BERKs
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