What to look for in a fence and deck contractor

One managing a project for your home, its not always easy picking the right contractor for the task at hand. Some things to look for in a contractor are:

Website Gallery: This will show previous work completed, a contractor should also be able to produce a few address for you to look at the work in person.

Testimonials: If customers are satisfied with the work completed they are more than happy to speak highly. Some reviews can be fabricated its always recommended to speak to previous customers.

Insurance: A contractor should have at a minimum 2 million in liability insurance. This ensures that if they damage property, it will get repaired. A contractor should also carry WSIB coverage for their employees. Do you know that when you hire someone to perform work at your home that you become the general contractor? If a contractor or his employees are working on your property and they get injured with no coverage that you can be liable for their medical bills and recovery?

Down Payments: Depending on the project a down payment may be required to secure materials. There should be no more than 25% of the project paid prior to starting the work. If a contractor is asking for more than 25% you should be very concerned.  Does the contractor have credit issues, will he even show up to start the work? We just finished a fence for a customer who paid another contractor 50% up front. The contractor set 9 posts and abandon the job, didn’t return calls. We were called to finish the job.

Personality: A contractor should have a level of professionalism that shows he cares about the trade, your needs, and will commit to a quality install.