FAQs
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
First, make sure they are licensed and bonded by checking out their trade name on www.lni.wa.gov. Without that, you are putting your home and livelihood at risk as unlicensed contractors rarely carry liability insurance and you will be liable for worker's comp claims or any possible damage done to your home. Second, ask for the terms of the contract- fixed or time and materials- and know the procedures for changes and additions to scope. A fixed price and known procedures for changes can help limit your financial risk. Last, thoroughly vet their reference list and visit completed projects. This is the only way to check on the quality of workmanship you can expect, and what kind of experience clients had in the contractor's care. Trust your gut. If you have an uneasy feeling about the person, price, or practices, it will only get worse as the stress and pressure of remodeling begins. A "too good to refuse" bid may be a foil for other faults the contractor is hoping to hide. Or worse, it could be a sign that in a year's time, they will be out of business just when their workmanship begins to fail.