FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Why price is important ? The importance of pricing Pricing is important since it defines the value that your product are worth for you to make and for your customers to use. It is the tangible price point to let customers know whether it is worth their time and investment.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Follow those 7 tips and you should be fine ............. 1. They can’t verify their license or insurance. If a contractor can’t provide their license number, be careful — they may not have one and if that’s the case: they shouldn’t be doing any work for you. You should also check with your state’s license board to see if your contractor has the right license for your project. Many agencies have online portals where you can verify a contractor’s license. Here’s an example of California’s contractor online lookup. Insurance is important, too. Verifying that your contractor has insurance will help protect you in case something unexpected happens. 2. The contractor insists you pay in cash. The Federal Trade Commission warns that a contractor who requires a cash payment may be scamming you. It’s always best practice to pay with a credit card or check so that you have the proof of payment. If the contractor you’re considering is fully vetted and legitimate, paying with cash may be OK. Just make sure you get a signed receipt that also includes details about the project, how much it cost and the date. 3. You’re “required” to obtain building permits and codes. Navigating building codes and permits can be complicated for the average homeowner. But for an experienced, legitimate contractor, it’s easy. Contractors have experience with this process and should be ready to help their clients get the required approvals before starting the projects. 4. They don’t have an online presence. If you can’t find any information about the contractor online or with your local or state government, that could be something to look into. Many contractors have some type of online presence or social media footprint that tells you more about their services, experience and specialities. You should also be able to read their customer reviews — which is pretty hard if they don’t have an online profile. 5. They have too many bad reviews. Don’t gloss over a bad review. Read through the reviews to determine if the contractor has consistently performed poorly. Find out if there’s a noticeable trend. For example, do customers always complain about their inability to finish the project on time? The quality of the work? Their professionalism? If the contractor keeps getting the same negative feedback, it’s a sign they may not be taking their clients’ reviews seriously in order to improve. Of course, if a contractor has just a few bad reviews, that doesn’t mean they’re terrible at their job. The bad review might just be a one-off. If you notice that the bad outweighs the good, consider finding another pro. 6. Their price quotes are suspiciously low Everyone loves a good deal. However, some deals are too good to be true. If the estimated cost for your project is much lower than you anticipated, get quotes from a few other contractors. If one contractor estimates the cost will be significantly lower, it might be a scam. 7. They can’t answer your questions. Before you choose a contractor, you should ask plenty of questions. Get more details about the materials they plan to use, how long the project will take, the itemized cost of the project and more. If your contractor is unable to answer questions like these, they might not have enough experience for your project.
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
Questions to Ask A Contractor Before Hiring Are you licensed for this type of work? ... Which types of insurance do you carry? ... How many building permits have you obtained in my area over the last two years? ... Can you provide a list of references? ... What is an expected timeline for this project?