How to HIRE a contractor?
HOW TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR?
This is one of the hardest things to do in life if you own a home. The wife and I have hired contractors around our house to do projects and they turned out to be a train wreck. RIZEN BUILD just dont want to be the best contractor in the Pacific NW, we want to fully inform each customer about how to hire a contractor. Please read and watch everything on this blog so you can be fully informed on how to hire a contractor!
As you go through this blog, you will see all of RIZEN BUILDS information because we do not hide anything from our customers. We are 100% transparent, we believe that our customer should not have to work hard to find a great contractor. If your contractor does not share all of this info with you up front they are hiding something or they are not trying to be the best at what they do. The just out there to make money and go to the next job/project.
Through the years Levi Ostlund has created a list of things a homewner should do by his years of experience and also from leading sources like BBB and WA L and I.
We have attached videos, pdfs, and other things from Washington L and I website. https://www.lni.wa.gov/
1. Do they have a WA State Contractors LIC?
* Click on this link.
* Click on the section that says verify a contractor, tradesperson or business tool.
* Search for the contractor.
* View search results to find the contractor and click on their profile.
* This is where you get all the details about this Contractor.
2. Do they have an active LLC or S-Corp?
* To find this it is also on the WA L and I website in the verify contractor section that was shown above.
3. Do they have Insurance?
* This can be found on the WA L and I website. As a homeowner I would check the website and call their agent, sometimes the L and I website does not get the update that a business stopped paying or whatever. There is some shady guys out there that will pay payments and stop as soon as they get legit.
RIZEN BUILD’s agent is Lisa Dyer with Dickinson Insurance
4. Are they bonded?
* RIZEN BUILD
5. Does your contractor have References?
Make sure you can call these references! And they are real people, and are not their friend.
Jake Pierce 360.644.9633
Scott McCausland 503.475.7279
Tami 503.539.5554
Ken Lee 408.480.5457
Dr. Nathan Moller 509.881.4255
Bruce 360.721.7934
Ben Riverman 503.820.1274
Joshua Barton 360.903.8176
Dave Kelley 360.907.3866 (Owner of Windy Ridge Winery (I have sealcoated his estate 3 times in 20 years.))
6. Does your contractor have references with the suppliers he uses?
This is key, you want to make sure they are in good standing. And have a great reputation with the suppliers in town.
Butch 360.608.1628 (Sales Rep. for Sealmaster (Working relationship of 20 years)
Karl 360.241.0437 (Plant Operator in Vancouver, WA Lakeside (Working relationship of 10 years, I knew his boss longer (Chris).))
Mark 360.723.0335 (Owner of Concrete Specialties in Battle Ground (Working relationship of 20 years.))
7. Do they have Google Reviews?
These might seem crazy or stupid. Google is free place for people to leave reviews. Start with the bad reviews and go up the list. Make sure they have 20 positive reviews or more and no less then 2 bad reviews about who they are or their services provided.
8. Are they accredited with the BBB (Better Business Bureau)
9. Do they have a website that is professional?
Not just a website. Does their website share about who they are? The company? Are they vulnerable about their reputation? Are they vulnerable about their company facts? Is all on the website for the world to see.
* If your this far you have seen that we have a beautiful website. Full of information about who we are. Full of information about our products. Full of information about industry standards.
10. Do they have a webiste that informs you?
Do you walk away with more questions about who the company is? They are not informing you enough. We live in 2021, we live in a informational era. Make sure they are legit.
* RIZEN BUILD lays it all 100%.
11. What products do they use?
Is your contractor telling you one thing and not doing it. For example asphalt guys will tell you they are giving you 2 1/2 inches of asphalt and they do on the edges where you can see. But really they grade the middle to have a crown so they give you way less in the middle and the 2 1/2 or 3 inches promised on the edges. These guys will also tell you that they are using a more expensive product and really buy crap or water it down. What ever the case is you need to ask what products are being used. This can be done by calling their references or even calling the provider yourself to see if they are truthful.
12. Years in business?
This is one the most complicated one. I know contractors or companies that have been in business for years but do some horrible work. We are coming out of an era that most people were not heard. No one ever posted reviews or said anything about anyone, unless it was to someone close. Now days we have google and its jsut catching on and other platforms customers can leave reviews. And even then people are still not using these platforms to inform others about their experiences.
The customers in this video Levi helped out and brought awareness to, hired a solar company that was in business for over 8 years. With a great reputation, great standing with everything.
13. Money down to start?
As you see in my video above, that lots of money down to start a project, leaves you in a vulnerable position. If the contractor cant do you project, without half down then they should not be in business. They are funding your project with your money. First things, first. If you hire someone you can fire them when ever you want if they suck. This is why you dont want to give them half down or more up front. The most a contractor should ask for is 15% down. Also its safe to say, if they bid your project with line item estimate. You can give 15% down and then pay the for each item when completed, until project is 100% complete.
* Depending on the size of the project, and the phasing of it. RIZEN BUILD asks for a 15% down and or a pay per phasing.
14. Scheduling.
This will come and bite a homeowner in the butt sometimes. Usually a good thing if they are out a couple weeks, or a month. If you can wait, you should wait and not go with the guy that can get you in right away.
* RIZEN BUILD usually is a week to a month out. Good news is Levi the owner is very good at scheduling is project and can usually fit someone in sooner.
15. Do they offer a warranty?
WA State requires all contractors to give a one year warranty for their work. If they are not clear about this or do not give you a warranty after work is completed then they are no good.
* GREAT NEWS! RIZEN BUILD gives a 2 year warranty (to improper installment, product failure due to improper materials) on all of our products unless told otherwise. Warranty is voided from wear and tear, concrete/asphalt cracking, improper cleaning, any crazy acts of GOD, anything that is out of the control of RIZEN BUILD.
16. Do they give you a written estimate that is line itemed out with the products that they are using?
This is key. We live in 2021, do not agree until you see a written proposal that has line items and product details. This is key. If they dont do this, they are lazy and do not care about you. Also if they dont do this they are most likely trying to hide something. If you get a lower bid and higher bid you can compare alot better. If you have multiple bids, you can compare per line item and all the details.
* GREAT NEWS! RIZEN BUILD has your back we make sure you are fully informed on and off the estimate. If we say something in person, we write it on your estimate.
17. Are you signing a Notice to Customers?
This is a form from the State of Washington has created to protect the consumer and the contractor. It is a must have! If your contractor does not fill this out with you and get it signed. He is just trying to get your money and may or may not do a good job.
* We do it!
18. Do they hire subcontractors?
This can be a good or a bad thing. Hopefully your contractor has vetted his guys as much as you have to hire them. If so they should be able to show you their Lic, Insurance, bond.
* RIZEN BUILD vets all of their subs. Also Levi dont hire anyone that does not have his same standard in mind. That is a 5 star experience!
19. Communication?
This is one of the biggest failures in all of construction. Depending on the communication, this matters. For example have they communicated to you all the above. Thats a big deal. If they suck at scheduling or calling you back, thats no good.
* RIZEN BUILD loves to communicate. Sometimes to much! Just kidding. We want to always keep you in the loop.
Check out these links to help you out with hiring a contractor.
https://www.lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/hiring-a-contractor/protect-my-home
https://www.lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/hiring-a-contractor/hire-smart-step-by-step