Every real estate investor, agent, homeowners, and anyone else involved in renovation and construction have all heard the nightmare experiences that happen as a result of unreliable contractors.

There are so many possible issues, too, that are a result of shoddy workmanship like delays, growing bills, inconsistency, but the worst is when the contractor simply doesn’t show up.

Most will agree that complaints against home improvement contractors is an ongoing complaint that doesn’t seem to be nearing its end anytime soon.

How Can You Avoid Your Own Nightmare?

Management companies with positive track records are going to be your best bet. Not only do they hold contractors accountable, but they also keep your project on track.

1. Know the Regulations

Regulations can differ from place to place, so you’re going to want to make sure you know the surrounding laws for your renovations or construction projects. You also don’t want to cut corners by hiring someone who is not a licensed professional because if something goes wrong, there’s not much anyone can do.

There are companies that do all of this for you as part of their process to keep things as hassle-free for you as possible, plus they’re guaranteed to use professionals to get the job done.

2. Background Checks

As a consumer, you want to verify that every home improvement contractor is, in fact, licensed as they claim. Checking into their claim also means you need to see where their license comes from as that can vary from city to city.

Don’t be afraid to dig deep to find information about the contractors you’re considering hiring. Alternatively, if you choose to use a company like Relotz to review relevant data, it helps to make sure you get reliable people on the job.

3. References are a Must

All home improvement projects require that you look for recommendations, so you know what to expect in terms of work to be done. Contractors with positive feedback will never be shy about giving you references.

Even companies will be willing to give you references to check so you can rest assured that you’re hiring a quality company.

4. Progress Reports

Regular progress reports are hugely significant to ensure your project stays on track. Nightmares happen when you have a contractor that hems and haws when it comes to giving you regular reports.

If a home renovation contractor is not willing to provide reports regularly, it falls on you to request and even demand to receive updates.

5. Contractual Obligations

In any contract, you need to make sure that any payments are put into an escrow account only to be used once renovations have been completed. By doing this, it prevents your contractor from using the money for anything other than what is expected.

Typical homeowners, and even professionals, are better off with using a lawyer to make sure the contract is appropriately worded. You never want to pay for any contractual obligation that hasn’t been fulfilled.

With real estate companies, it’s part of their process for their clients. As a bonus, you can always have your personal lawyer review the contract before you sign it, too.

A Few Other Things to Remember

Specific projects requiring more significant renovations may require an architect, so you don’t want to cut corners there either. Larger projects are also simply too much for a homeowner to follow, so you’re going to want a company to handle it for you instead.

At Relotz, consumer protection is of the highest priority, so we make sure that we provide as much information as possible from data available to us. Don’t hesitate to call us at 1.844.473.5689 for more information or any questions you might have!