Recognizing a Poor Contractor

by Kristyne McDaniel

Many of us can state from experience that it can be very tough to recognize a poor contractor before the day you sign the contract. In our experience, there are a few indicators that can help, but even these are not definitive. Still, here they are:

- The proposal is unclear to the point it does not accurately describe the work to be performed

- The contract is sloppy and incomplete

- The contractor wants you to purchase materials up front

- The contractor wants a large deposit prior to beginning work

A good contractor with a track record will have a line of credit with suppliers that can be used to start the project. They will not demand that you purchase supplies prior to starting work.