“Reputation is like fine china. Once broken, it is very hard to repair.” — Abraham Lincoln

 
On my way to work this morning, I caught an interview with a woman who had a “nightmarish” experience with a moving company. She commented that she found the company doing a google search and did a bit of research to ensure they were reputable. They quoted her around $2,000 and once they had her personal items, they increased the price to over $20,000. It took her months to receive some of her household goods and since then the company has been charged with fraud.

I am covering this story, not to scare readers, but to highlight the importance of using a local company with a reputation for providing quality service. This goes for Real Estate Agents, moving companies, home inspectors, Mortgage Brokers, and an endless list of any of the trades a homeowner may hire to complete a project.
Sometimes when you hear a “bad experience” story and read between the lines, there may be some blame to be found on both sides of the agreement and other times the service provider falls flat.

I chatted with a friend who hired a landscape contractor to install new fencing recently. The lumber arrived and the contractor disappeared with the deposit. Another landscaping fail I heard about happened when a client paid 50% of a large job to finish both the front and back of their home. In this case, they never heard from the contractor once they received the deposit.

Post-pandemic, I am seeing more and more of my clients and friends having issues getting quality work completed. From getting contractors to respond to inquiries, to jobs started and timelines missed, agreed-upon costs increasing as the job progresses and as mentioned above, disappearing acts once some money is received.

On a positive note, we have had a company doing work in our home over the past few years. They were introduced to us by a friend, who had used this cabinet company herself and had several friends use them to build bathrooms and kitchens. They showed up on time, stayed true to their quote and have been back several times to do some cosmetic repairs to the damage our family caused. (Ooopsie, did I drop that knife?) The bad experiences seem to have more noise than the ones where the homeowner is thrilled and satisfied with the work they contracted.

I am blessed to be in a career where I have been introduced to so many tradespeople, contractors, and workers in and around Real Estate, that I have compiled a list of names I can confidently refer to in my sphere.

But…..What happens if you don’t know where to turn?

Here are some thoughts on how to navigate the process of hiring a person to do work around your home that will limit surprises.

1) Ask a friend. This seems simple; however, many people will do a google search rather than ask for a referral. If you get the name of a service provider from someone who has used them and you can obtain names and contact information of their local past clients to inquire about their quality, it really betters your chance of a quality job.

2) Google Reviews. We are fortunate to have 120 5-star Google reviews. Google is one of the most reliable platforms for reviews. They make the reviewer jump through hoops to ensure an honest review.

3) Look for a referral from a local contractor in a related business. If you know a reliable plumber, I am certain they can help with referrals to electricians, HVAC trades and drafting professionals.

4) Shop local. This is not a guarantee that you will get quality service, however, if you hire a local service provider that has a reputation that goes back years locally, the chances lessen that you will make a mistake. Still, request a list of past customers to ask for their experiences

5) Stay away from “bag signs.” You know the signs that litter street corners. Signs that offer pot light installations, rec rooms, air conditioning and shingles. When you make the call, you never know if the person you are talking with lives in the Durham Region or the other side of Toronto.

6) When you speak with a contractor, ask who will be doing the work. A few years ago, I ended up hiring what I thought was a contractor and later I found out that he was a “project manager” who sub-contracted the work out. In the end, the work was better than what I expected, however, the “project manager” was a challenge to deal with.

7) Sign a contract. Handshakes may be good for meeting friends, however, when hiring a service provider ensure that you not only sign a contract but that you receive a copy of the agreement that you can refer to. An old joke, “a verbal offer isn’t worth the paper it’s written on” applies here.

There are no guarantees that doing research, asking friends, and completing your due diligence will ensure that the work will be completed on time and at the price you agree upon., but it will certainly help to better your chances of a successful job that you can enjoy the results of.

If you are needing work done on your property and would like the name of a contractor or service provider, I am more than happy to offer any of the trusted companies I have worked with over the years.

I can be reached at lindsay@buyselllove.ca
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