How to Hire the Right Contractor

*Approx. 3-minute read

Planning your next home performance upgrade can be both exciting and nerve wracking. After all, your home is a source of pride and joy. It’s where life happens — where memories are made and futures started. It’s your haven and your nest egg. So when you decide to invest in improving the comfort, health, and efficiency of your home, you want to make sure you do it right.

One of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is who to hire for the job. Home improvement projects of any type can be stressful and time-consuming, so getting things off to the best start possible by hiring the right contractor is key. If you’re wondering just how to go about this, Pearl is here to help. Below are our top five tips for finding and hiring the right contractor — so you can kick off your next home upgrade or improvement project with confidence.

Top 5 Tips for Hiring the Right Contractor

1. Compare multiple contractors. 

As a homeowner interested in improving your home’s performance, you want to make sure you hire a reputable contractor who will not only get the job done, but done well. You don’t want just any contractor, you want the best. So before you move forward with a hiring decision, make sure to thoroughly research at least a few different companies so you can compare their strengths and assess any glaring weaknesses.

2. Research their online reputation. 

Look for indicators of superior customer service and value by checking their average ratings and actually reading through several reviews (both positive and negative) on Google, Yelp, Facebook, Angie’s List and other prominent local review sites. Also be sure to check their Better Business Bureau rating and history for any unresolved complaints or other red flags.

3. Ask each contractor to provide the following:

• Customer referrals

• Professional references

• Written customer dispute resolution process

• Proof of proper licenses, processes, permits, and any other requirements for practicing their trade in your geographic area

4. Find out what sets them apart from other contractors.

Home performance projects require special knowledge, skills, and experience, so it’s important to know your contractor is up to the task. Find out what certifications, additional training, or other credentials they have that demonstrate a commitment to going above and beyond the minimum requirements for contractors in your area. For example:

• Are they involved with reputable industry associations?

• Do they provide ongoing education and training for their workforce?

• Are they knowledgeable about the latest products, safety protocols, and emerging trends in their trade?

• Are they engaged in activities that demonstrate a commitment to bettering the communities they serve?

These are all good indicators of a genuine commitment to quality and being the “best in the business.”

5. Keep in mind that while price is important, it should not be the only (or even primary) factor in your decision.

It can be easy to get sucked in by a low bid from a contractor, but if you base your hiring decision solely on their estimated project cost, you could wind up paying for it in other ways. These “low ball” contractors are often unlicensed, incompetent or otherwise “bad” professionals who are more likely to use low-quality equipment, leave you with shoddy work, go way over their initial estimates of cost and/or time, and provide extremely poor customer service in general. They may also be cutting corners in important areas like licensing, certifications, insurance, or training — which means you’re taking on a huge risk that’s simply not worth it, no matter what the initial “savings” may seem to be. 

Additionally, it’s important to remember that whoever you hire will be working in and around your home. So finding a contractor that you feel comfortable with—someone you can trust and whose general personality and communication style you like—is at least as important as price (if not more).  

Of course, if you don’t have the time or desire to go through this vetting process yourself, you can always turn to Pearl for help. 

Pearl takes out the guesswork when it comes to finding and hiring an experienced, reputable contractor. Our contractors represent the top U.S. HVAC, home performance, and solar professionals in the country. They outshine other contractors with high-quality work, excellent service, and deep expertise. They’re well-versed in indoor air quality (IAQ), energy efficiency, and renewables—and they’re committed to making your home more comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient.

Plus, only Pearl Network Contractors can take you through the Pearl Certification process. They know how to properly document your home’s high-performing features—so you not only improve your home, you also increase its market value.

Ready for your next home performance upgrade?

Head on over to our Green Door app, where you can easily search for Pearl Professionals in your area, create a custom home record, and track and plan all your home maintenance and improvement projects.