{"id":2973,"date":"2013-07-10T13:13:30","date_gmt":"2013-07-10T18:13:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/?p=2973"},"modified":"2014-11-13T17:56:26","modified_gmt":"2014-11-13T23:56:26","slug":"how-to-find-a-reputable-contractors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/how-to-find-a-reputable-contractors\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Reputable Contractors!"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>Guide to help find local reputable contractors!<\/h3>\n<div>Working Relationships<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>During your meetings, which should be a fair exchange between the party contracting and the prospective contractor, gauge your feelings and impressions you have about the person\/organization you would be dealing with.<\/li>\n<li>Do they seem reputable and reliable?<\/li>\n<li>Is this a representative or salesperson of the company and if so, who will be onsite handling the project?<\/li>\n<li>Know before signing. And be wary of attempts that get you to sign right now. Higher involvement decisions by nature require more time.<\/li>\n<li>Does the person strike you as being knowledgeable and not just versed on the subject?<\/li>\n<li>Given the setting and your own set of circumstances\/nature of the work, were appropriate product samples available or at least made reference to?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>Experience<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How many years have they been in the business? [Which also raises the question of financial stability and ability to stand behind a warranty].<\/li>\n<li>How closely does their experience and track record related to your own project?<\/li>\n<li>Have they been diverse in the sense that they&#8217;ll be able to cope with an hidden unforeseeable that may rear, and fairly at that?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>References<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Look at your initial mode of contact. If they do or don&#8217;t come by way of reference from associates, friends, or from those already in the business.<\/li>\n<li>Still do your part. Become clear on the issues of cleanliness, professionalism and regard for the project overall from inception to beyond completion?<\/li>\n<li>Do their projects come in on budget and on time. Or within the timetable relied on for larger scale projects?<\/li>\n<li>Does the company utilize subcontractors versus employees. [for the project receiver, the subcontractor arrangement can have disadvantages such as delays in completion, quality of work issues, and not as much influence over the finished product while employee-roles offer greater consistency as a whole. But this is no universal rule by any wild stretch.]<\/li>\n<li>Obtain at total of at least three references in any case.<\/li>\n<li>Check with your local Better Business Bureau for registered complaints and current status of these, company history, and whether any outstanding issues have been resolved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>Cost<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>While the low bidder is favorable to many, and is usually most often chosen, consider what you may be paying for in trade for the lesser price; if at all. Are quality of materials possibly being sacrificed?<\/li>\n<li>Also along with costs, you&#8217;ll want to consider the payment arrangements. Specifically the percentage of retention or holdback &#8211; the amount withheld until completion, which is factored as an allocation to finish your project in the event the chosen contractor does not complete satisfactorily.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>Licensing<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Requirements vary from state to state. Check with your state department of regulation or licensing board or, county building department to get a grasp on.<\/li>\n<li>Also don&#8217;t take on good faith that the license won&#8217;t expire during your said project so confirm expiration dates too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>Guarantee<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Have specified any product\/labor offered and for what duration.<\/li>\n<li>What exactly does the guarantee cover? All labor and material ? Or will labor be separated out at that future date, only be stood behind by itself, as is so common.<\/li>\n<li>What circumstances and exceptions might apply to the proposed guarantee and is this guarantee in writing or only by word-of-mouth? Always this is an area that deserves extra attention and clarification.<\/li>\n<li>Lastly, make sure any applicable code requirements are adhered to and which one of you will handle the needed permits, such as filing for and later sign-off with the inspector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guide to help find local reputable contractors! Working Relationships During your meetings, which should be a fair exchange between the party contracting and the prospective contractor, gauge your feelings and impressions you have about the person\/organization you would be dealing with. Do they seem reputable and reliable? Is this a representative or salesperson of the company and if so, who will be onsite handling the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/how-to-find-a-reputable-contractors\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How to Find Reputable Contractors!<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&raquo;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-outdoor-safety-tips"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Nnyf-LX","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2895,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/outdoor-curtains-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":2973,"position":0},"title":"Outdoor Curtains &#8211; Tab Top, Rod Pocket or Grommets","author":"Trey Collier","date":"March 26, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The Inexpensive Choice For Backyard Privacy and Comfort The desire for a private, comfortable, and beautiful backyard living space often leads home owners to make expensive decisions. Adding on a sun room or even a screened-in porch requires contractors, building permits, large and noisy machinery, and a lengthy wait for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Indoor Living Spaces&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Indoor Living Spaces","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/indoor-living-spaces\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/3L\/Outdoor-curtain-gallery9.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2605,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/charm-of-chiminea-stylish-accessories\/","url_meta":{"origin":2973,"position":1},"title":"The Charm of the Chiminea &#8211; Stylish Outdoor Accessories","author":"Trey Collier","date":"September 17, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The chiminea originates from Mexico, where it was originally created as an oven and outdoor fireplace designed to keep families warm, even while it was raining.\u00a0 The design allows these fire places to be used at any time and avoid the rain, which is why they have the shape that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Fireplaces Pits &amp; Chimineas&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Fireplaces Pits &amp; Chimineas","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/fireplaces-pits-chimineas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backyardcity.com\/Images\/TBR\/Sun-Ray-Large-charcoal.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1498,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/using-nature-to-mask-the-noises-from-nearby-roads\/","url_meta":{"origin":2973,"position":2},"title":"Using Nature to Mask the Noises from Nearby Roads","author":"Sara May","date":"March 21, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"When you live within earshot of a busy road or train tracks, relaxing outside on your porch, patio, or deck may not be all that relaxing.\u00a0 Train whistles, sirens, honking vehicles, and even the steady drone of cars and trucks passing along the road can interrupt your need for silent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Environmentally Friendly Ideas&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Environmentally Friendly Ideas","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/environmentally-friendly-ideas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Solar Water Fountain","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/STI\/Fountain-1131.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":937,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/portable-hammocks-for-nature-lovers-on-the-go\/","url_meta":{"origin":2973,"position":3},"title":"Portable Hammocks for Nature Lovers on the Go!","author":"Trey Collier","date":"September 9, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 There are many reasons that I love returning to my childhood home to visit my parents. While spending time with them and enjoying their company is the most important part of the visits, relaxing the afternoon away in their hammock is another! They have a large front yard\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Innovative Solutions&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Innovative Solutions","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/innovative-solutions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2630,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/choosing-the-perfect-outdoor-fireplace\/","url_meta":{"origin":2973,"position":4},"title":"Choosing the Perfect Outdoor Fireplace","author":"Trey Collier","date":"October 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"When you are in the market for an outdoor fireplace, you have a lot of different options.\u00a0 People often use the terms fireplace, fire pit, and fire ring interchangeably, but these actually all refer to different types of products that you can buy to have fires in for your home.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Fireplaces Pits &amp; Chimineas&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Fireplaces Pits &amp; Chimineas","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/fireplaces-pits-chimineas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/DNA\/Rocklin.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2635,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/choosing-a-portable-grill-for-tailgating\/","url_meta":{"origin":2973,"position":5},"title":"Choosing a Portable Grill for Tailgating","author":"Trey Collier","date":"October 9, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"When you're getting ready for a tailgate party for your favorite team, you've got to have all the supplies to have a great time.\u00a0 The good news is that you can find everything that you need online and be ready for football season in no time at all.\u00a0 One of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Tailgaiting&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Tailgaiting","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/tailgaiting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CADAC Safari Tailgate Grill","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/CAD\/Safari-Tailgate2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2973"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2975,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2973\/revisions\/2975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}