HIRING A TILE CONTRACTOR
We put a lot of time and research into buying a TV, stereo, appliance, car or furniture. We want to make sure we get the best of everything surrounding that purchase. Why not use the same principles to hire a contractor? A Tile Contractor will be spending time in your home, working around family/pets and hopefully finishing what was promised in the parameters you agreed upon.
Before hiring a Tile Contractor, do a little research to get the end results you are expecting. Hoping to get the right contractor by accepting the lowest price, hiring a handyman to do professional work or not checking the guidelines below can result in an exhausting, possibly costly process. Infinity Tile Installation Co. has compiled a list of situations you might want to avoid and then suggestions on choosing the right tradesman for your work.
Some issues you may want to avoid:
Contractor asks for full payment upfront:
NEVER pay upfront for a project in full as a less than honest Contractor could disappear without starting or finishing the job. They may need your money to finish another project which puts your project in jeapordy. A deposit to hold your job or to buy special order material is acceptable.
Discuss the payment schedule with your new contractor. A deposit of 1/4-1/3 of the job is reasonable with the balance paid upon completion. If the job is lengthy or has to be worked in around other trades, “draws” are usually scheduled and the final draw is paid on completion. You should receive a written contract with this and all other details of the job.
A special offer “for today” only:
Remodeling decisions should be made through careful consideration of all aspects surrounding the project. Any “deal” someone offers should be good at any point, don't let a contractor pressure you into an immediate decision.
Contact information and communication:
Make sure you have good contact information from your Tile Contractor. Just a cell number without any other information is asking for trouble. A contractor not returning calls even before the job has commenced is also bad sign, it won’t get any better after the job has started.
Bidding much lower than other Tile Contractors:
Someone bids a job much lower than the price of a reputable Tile Contractor’s estimate. There can be many reasons behind this. Sometimes a Tile Contractor doesn’t estimate all of the job whether by mistake or on purpose just to get the job. Both can end in the same result with surprise “overages” resulting in extra charges. This scenario will have you paying the same or more than the other bids you turned down. We also see non-licensed, non-insured “handymen”, who have no offices, flying under the radar hence they can charge less. Another reason for low bidding would be someone who is new or inexperienced which can result in shoddy or half finished work. There are some “contractors” who share one person’s license, business card, etc. Do you want anyone in your home that is not insured or licensed? What if they damage an area or object, you experience a theft in your home or they sustain an injury while working in your home? You have no recourse on their work or material and are responsible for any personal injuries.
A reliable Tile Contractor will be happy to provide a current copy of insurance/workman’s comp/general liability. You can ask for a driver’s license to compare the name on the insurance or business license. When a reputable Tile Contractor pays for safety and insurance in your home, licenses, an office location, websites, etc. it adds up and is absorbed into the final estimate.
Occasionally a customer says … “I’m going with the cheapest price”. More often than not, we get a call later… “I should have gone with your company… can you come and fix/take out/re-do my job”. The final result has you paying twice for the job. Unnecessary time, money and frustration spent on your part.
A knock on the door... “I’m in the neighborhood…"
This can happen to unwary homeowners or elderly. Someone knocks on your door or puts a flyer in your mailbox soliciting work(tile, renovating, etc). Unless your neighbor or friend, whom they have worked for and has been referred to you, be wary. Do they have signs on their truck, appear professional, have a business card and insurance? Not all flyers should send up red flags, make sure you research, checking credentials, licenses, etc.
Solid references:
An experienced Tile Contractor should have references in the form of pictures, professional contacts (distributors, material warehouses, decorators), a website or has done work for your friends, neighbors or family. No references can mean just that… no one is happy with their work, poor conduct on job or worse, left without finishing the job with the home owner’s money. Check references.
Infinity Tile Installation Co. hopes you haven’t experienced any of the above situations. Implementing some or all of the suggestions below should start you on a safer foundation and help you establish a good relationship with your tradesman.
Planning your project:
A good start is planning your project, having ideas, designs or materials in mind. Research different materials, get samples of tile or stone, ask for assistance from a decorator or tile design showroom, go to a Parade of Homes, look at renovation magazines, ask neighbors to see their work, etc. Inspiration for a beautifully tiled or stone area can come from a picture, décor colors(wallpaper, rugs, furniture, home style) even a favorite object. An experienced tradesman can offer ideas or suggestions that might enhance your plan. He may have pictures of his jobs, a website to view his work or point you in a direction for more help.
Check references:
A good Tile Contractor can provide references from many areas of his daily routine. A few types of referrals may be: Previous jobs done for other homeowners, professional referrals like interior decorators, material or distributor showrooms, newspaper articles, other reputable contractors, builders, etc. A licensed contractor is registered with the city for verification. If a contractor comes referred through a tile showroom or professional storefront business, they are probably reputable. This type of referral shows the contractor has a history of working with the referral company. The company is getting good feedback from their customers, the contractor keeps current with their account and provides a professional image installing their material. Ask if the Tile Tradesman has a current job going that you can visit. Private homes may not be available but a new home under construction may allow access.
Bidding:
Jobs should be bid “apples to apples”. Going over the bid/contract with the homeowner insures that everything they want has been included. Just seeing the word "tile, sink, faucet, border,trim" on a contract is vague. Detailed information about your choices should be understood by both you and your Tile Contractor. Any changes to this contract are initialed and signed as these changes can reflect the final pricing.
Payment schedule:
Payment schedule and forms of payment accepted should be discussed and/or listed on the contract. This information ensures a good contractor/homeowner relationship. The Tile Contractor is working hard to insure your job is completed in a timely and satisfactory fashion. Paying upon completion helps them be more efficient at their work.
Materials used on your project:
Buying or ordering your material from a reliable distributor will ensure quality and will be backed by a manufacturers warranty or guarantee. Buying “seconds” or “thirds” may save you in the beginning but can be a nightmare down the road. When selecting material, the distributors have many types of tile/stone/glass for particular applications. Your contractor or showroom sales person can guide you with your design and cost to fit your budget.
Your Tile Contractor:
When interviewing a prospective Tile Contractor, are you… asking your questions and getting experienced answers, being offered a business card, contact information, proof of insurance, getting suggestions or ideas for your project? Are you comfortable with that person coming into your home to do work while you are there or away? Does the Tile Contractor leave you feeling good about your experience with him? When you're ready for more work to be done in your home, you can feel secure about rehiring the professional Tile Tradesman or company you had a good experience with.
Insurance:
As we stress above, reputable tile contractors should be fully insured for their work and occupation. Infinity Tile Installation Co. is involved in all size projects. We have seen in larger renovations, instances of fire, theft of materials and home damage by other trades. Homeowner’s policy may not cover some or all of those occurrences. Homeowners will turn off their security and smoke alarms while their renovation is in progress. If you have a larger renovation or are moving out during the renovation process you might want to call your home insurance company and ask for a Builders Risk Policy, also known as Course of Construction (C.O.C.). Under this policy you can get coverage for damage during construction, inclement weather, theft (materials, etc), fire and vandalism. This type of policy takes into consideration the progress and ongoing change in value of a property as it is being renovated. Standard fire policies can not assign a future value to the property. Check with your insurance agency before any renovation to make sure you are properly covered with your current policy.
These suggestions from Infinity Tile Installation Co. are meant as guidelines for your next tile/stone project. Doing your research should provide you with a stress free job and a wonderful addition to your home you can appreciate for years to come.