Something a lot of people don’t think about until it’s too late after moving into a new home and/or neighborhood is finding trustworthy service professionals. What makes these decisions so tough is that you often don’t know if they are worth your trust until it’s too late. If you’ve moved, or if it’s your first time tackling a new type of project, it’s time to start building a list. Whether you found this post because you’ve found yourself in need, or because you like to plan ahead, here are six tips to make sure you’re hiring pros, from plumbing and painting to lawn care and roofers, that deserve you as a client.
Define The Work You Need Done
Before you can even begin your search for a pro, take a moment to nail down as much detail as possible for your project. While sometimes your goals will be very clear, for example, if your bathroom is flooding, you know that your goal is to fix whatever issues are causing that and repair any damage. However, if you are also thinking about taking advantage of this incident to take on some remodeling of your flooded bathroom, having a vision for your remodel will help you find the right pros.
Get To Know Your Neighbors
If you haven’t already, now’s a good time to introduce yourself to your neighbors and ask around. Reach out to your coworkers if they live in the area for recommendations. If you’re unsure about reaching out to your neighbors and coworkers, there is one person that we can assure you are invested in your success as a homeowner AND is in the know about everything to do with managing your home, and that person is your real estate agent (Pro Tip: When you use the ZYYAH App, from our partner ZYYAH, you are able to access your real estate agents’ Pro List and build your own Home Team, all on one easy to use, and free, platform).
Once you have a list of recommendations and notes, take a moment to compare everything and narrow down your choices to continue vetting.
Spend Some Time On Social Media… And Don’t Forget Google
When in doubt, Google, and when you want more information, become a social media sleuth. While Google is still the standard for finding client reviews and even pictures. However, they can sometimes be skewed, and if you feel like the reviews you are looking at aren’t showing the full picture, social media platforms are a great way to fill in the gaps. From searching for nearby providers to looking through tagged posts to get a more informed view.
Review Some Of Their Finished Projects
This is especially true when researching home service pros to help with bigger projects like a remodel. Most home service professionals have portfolios of their work. Once you have your shortlist of potential home service pros for your project, ask for their portfolios and take your time. Pay attention to details, note any themes in their style, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Get More Than One Bid
Even if you’ve done all your research and think you’ve found ‘the one’ it’s still a good idea to get at least get three bids before you make your final decision.
Check Credentials & Ask For A Guarantee
If you haven’t already, the last thing you should do before signing anything is to check their credentials. Also, make sure they offer a guarantee or warranty for their work.
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