Hiring a home improvement contractor can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t know what to look for. A bad contractor can turn a project into a nightmare and end up costing you more money and headache than you bargained for. Before you bring in any contractor to do work on your home, you should take notice of potential red flags. 

One red flag to watch out for when hiring a home improvement contractor is if they offer an unusually low price. While saving money is important, in this case it’s not worth the risk. Low pricing can mean the contractor is cutting corners on materials or labor, or that they’re desperate for business and possibly don’t have much experience. 

Low pricing may also indicate that they don’t have a handle on their business finances. 

Contractors who are often unfamiliar with their numbers may struggle to keep track of their finances and as a result, are more likely to go out of business. Without knowing the basic principles of financial management, they are more likely to mismanage funds, fail to pay taxes, and other common pitfalls that can lead to financial instabilities. When such basic financial principles are not followed, contractors are more likely to run into financial difficulty, which can lead to failure and ultimately, going out of business. Remember that the warranty you are offered is only as good as the business that stands behind it. If that business goes under, so does the guarantee behind their work.

Another warning sign is if the contractor doesn't ask enough questions. Contractors have a tendency to talk too much about their own abilities and the services /instead of asking enough questions to truly understand what their clients hope to accomplish with their project. For a successful project outcome, it's important for contractors to listen to their customers' needs and expectations, ask questions in order to better understand their vision, and provide detailed solutions that bring their vision to life. It is only by getting a complete picture of the project at hand, and more importantly understand the WHY behind the work you want, that contractors can offer the solutions that truly meet their clients' goals. If you feel that your contractor is over-sharing, or the conversation is one sided this may be a sign of trouble ahead in your project. 

Finally, if the contractor is not busy, it can be a cause for concern. Any contractor who’s been in the home improvement business for a while will have a full schedule of projects so it could be a sign the contractor is new to the scene. It could also mean they’re not as established or reliable as they should be. Skilled laborers are in extremely short supply these days, so plan accordingly and expect to wait in order to hire the right person for the job. 

In the end, hiring a home improvement contractor should be a well thought out decision. Pay attention to these potential red flags and you’ll be able to find a professional contractor who can handle any job.