We bid against other contractors every week, so read this knowing where it comes from. It is still the same checklist we would use to hire someone in our own trade, and it will save you money and grief no matter who you pick, including if it is not us.
License and insurance, no exceptions
Ask for the NJ home improvement contractor number and proof of insurance. A real contractor hands both over without blinking. A guy who hesitates is a guy whose accident on your property becomes your problem. Ours are on every page of our website and every proposal we send.
Look at pricing the right way
Bids that are far apart are usually not measuring the same job. One includes proper base, compaction, drainage, and cleanup. The other includes showing up. When a price seems too good to be true, ask exactly what it includes, in writing. That question saves more homeowners than any other.
References beat photos
Anyone can show you pictures. Ask to talk to a customer from two or three years ago, because time is what exposes shortcut work. Our reviews are public on Google, under real names, and we would rather you read them than take our word.
Watch how they communicate
The contractor who answers the phone before the job is the one who will answer it after. Slow callbacks, vague answers, and no written scope during the sales process only get worse once your deposit clears.
Get the scope in writing
What is included, what is excluded, what happens if something unexpected turns up. Two pages of plain language prevents almost every horror story you have heard.
Common questions
What should I ask a contractor before hiring them? The New Jersey home improvement contractor number and proof of insurance, both of which a real contractor hands over without hesitating. Then ask exactly what the price includes, in writing. That second question saves more homeowners than any other.
Why are two bids for the same job thousands apart? Usually because they are not measuring the same job. One includes proper base, compaction, drainage and cleanup. The other includes showing up. A price that seems too good to be true is generally quoting less work rather than the same work for less.
Are photos of past jobs good enough proof? Not on their own. Anyone can show you pictures of the day the work finished. Ask to speak to a customer from two or three years ago instead, because what matters is whether it is still right, not whether it looked right.
Should I trust advice from a contractor bidding my job? Read it knowing where it comes from. The checklist above is the same one we would use to hire in our own trade, and it will save you money whether or not you hire us.
Hire whoever earns it. And if you want a second opinion on a quote you already have, we give those for free: 862-268-2510.
Still not sure how this applies to your property? That is what a free on-site estimate is for. Call 862-268-2510 or tell us what is going on, and we will give you a straight answer, including when the answer is that you do not need us.