Hiring A Contractor in New York

Newspapers, Television & Radio News, books, and magazines all have some very disturbing insights of the contracting industry.

It's common knowledge. Contractors, for the most part, have a horrible image. To us here at Professional Services Inc. this really disturbs us! We know that we are the most hard working, good, honest, conscientious, and decent group of people a client could ever meet.

Unfortunately, almost everyone you speak to about contractors has nothing good to say about them. Fortunately, for us, we have never had this problem, however, we would like to point out exactly why things of this nature are stated by consumers every day. Below are the reasons why this takes place.

At some point in time, we have all heard someone say that they hired a contractor to complete a project at their home or apartment and it turned into a nightmare. Home Improvement Contractors (HIC) have more complaints lodged against them with the Better Business Bureau than just about any other industry every single year. 

The reason for this is a two part problem. The first part of the problem is that you have unqualified individuals or companies posing as true professional contractors. Secondly you have home and apartment owners hiring these companies or individuals simply because their price to complete your work is much lower than a truly qualified contractor. Consumers simply get free estimates from contractor after contractor. They pick each one's brain as they go along until finally one shows up and gives them a price that they can either afford, think is correct, or are willing to pay.

Quite honestly, the average consumer has no idea how much it costs to complete their project or how great the cost of overhead is for a real contractor in New York. What makes matters worse is the fact that the majority of Home Improvement Contractors in New York have very little idea themselves as to how to figure out the cost of a job properly as well, which means figuring in insurance costs, labor costs of employees who are insured, all overhead, and profit for the company. Anyone can figure out the cost of the materials required to complete your project. 90% of all Home Improvement Contractors lowball the cost of your work for two reasons, one because they do not have good business sense, and two, because they are all worried about competing against each other which forces them to give these lowball final costs simply to get the project.

So, firstly, you have a group of so called contractors giving you costs without understanding how to really come up with the correct price. Secondly, you have a group of terrible businessmen competing against each other to give the lowest price to the potential client because this is the only way these so called contractors can get work.

Which ever low baller succeeds in being awarded your project will still be stuck in the same position they are always in on any job they can get which is not making a profit or a living for doing your job. When an individual or a company can not make a profit on what they offer you, how good of a job do you think they are going to do for you. How attentive do you think they are going to be to your needs or concerns. What do you think your overall experience with this company is going to be.

Don't hire a contractor based on lowest price alone. The basis of a contractor's price is important. Do not simply hire a contractor with the lowest estimate. Examine and breakdown each estimate. Is the price of materials low compared to other estimates? The materials could be inferior. If one contractor's price is lower than another's his standard of professionalism and workmanship may not be up to par with a more qualified contractor. Or the contractor may have made a mistake on the price. Weigh all factors-price quote, references, professionalism, and your gut feeling before making a decision.

Sadly, many of the individuals or companies who operate in the fashion stated above desperately need to sign up the next job up so they can get a deposit and use some of the money from their new client to finish up the project that they are currently working on for their existing client. This is simply because they also low balled the cost of that project as well in order to get the work and have run out of money before completing the work. It's a vicious cycle for these types of operations, however there are so many out there. This takes place every day in New York. No wonder why there are so many horror stories regarding horrible contractors. The consumer is equally responsible for these scenarios, and until they understand that there is a major difference in quality, craftsmanship, professionalism, and cost, between an amateur posing as a contractor and a real contractor these problems will never go away. 

Unfortunately, you the consumer must live with the serious problems which come along with these tactics, and in one way or another, it is you that will suffer through your renovation. Either due to shoddy handyman type finish work, or In your normal day to day dealings with the unprofessional company you hired, or with the endless time frame it takes for an inexperienced contractor to finish your project, if it gets finished at all.

Not paying enough money to have your work done is far worse than paying a little to much to have it done. If you ended up paying a real contractor more money to complete your work in a professional quality oriented fashion, at least you end up with a beautiful finished product that you can enjoy when it's completed. By under paying, and not being happy with your end result, (if the work ever gets finished and the end result ever comes) you will suffer and agonize over the mistake you made every day you come home and look at the horror that you paid an unqualified contractor for. At this point, the Great Price you thought you were paying, is really not a Great Price at all. It's a waste of money.

You must understand that there are no deals or specials in this industry, you get exactly what you pay for when it comes to hiring a contractor, or for that matter, anything in life. All contractors are not created equal as some consumers may think or want to believe because of price differences in estimates you receive prior to beginning your work. Fraud involving Home Improvement Contractors is at the top of the scam list.

Below is a Contractor Selection Checklist which applies to New York City and the five Boroughs. If you follow the guidelines of this list and not allow yourself to select your contractor based on price alone, you will have protected yourself to the highest degree an succeeded in choosing the right company to complete your remodeling or renovation project. You will also discover, that Professional Services Inc. is that right company.

You should also visit one or two of the contractor's references either with the contractor, your designer, or architect, if you have one on your project. We assure you, that if the contractor did the right job for them and took care of them in a professional manner, they would be happy to let you come to their home to view the work.

Anyone can say that they completed work for someone, you must verify this in person so you can see the finished product with your own two eyes. This is one area will you will realize and understand the difference in pricing from each of the contractors you may be considering. Also, by contacting all these references you'll learn not only about the quality of the contractor's current work, but how well his work and warranty holds up. Additionally, you will get a feel for the contractor's long term standing with his clients.

Before hiring any contractor you should also check for any complaints against him with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, the New York City Department of Buildings, and if they are a member, the Better Business Bureau of New York. Again please keep in mind that no complaints doesn't always mean that they do not exist. Like we stated above, they may be doing business under another name as well. You should ask the contractor point blank if he is doing business under any other names. If not, ask him to put a clause in your contract that states this fact before you sign it should you decide to go with him.

First of all, let us start off by suggesting that you hire a contractor with at least ten or more years of experience. Studies have shown that contractor's with 10 or more years of experience are more likely to have a solid business foundation, and are therefore more likely to be reliable.

Ask the contractor what services they offer. Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Tile & Stone Work, Glass Work, Wood Flooring Installations, Doors, Windows, Painting & Plastering, Moldings & Trim Work, etc. 

Ask the contractor how many projects like the one you would like to have completed for yourself has his company completed for former clients. Ask him to show you pictures of the completed projects, and if he could put you in contact with these former clients of the company so you may view the work.