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How Do You Choose A Good Contractor?
We understand that choosing a good contractor for your project may not be an easy decision to make. To help you in the process of choosing a professional landscaping contractor, or for that matter, any type of contactor, we thought that we could offer some helpful advice. Below are some factors to consider when choosing a contractor.
 Licensed, Bonded, and Insured This is the advice given most often to consumers, “Make sure your contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured.” In short, if there are bonding or insurance requirements, these need to be fulfilled in order to get licensed. So, the real question should be, “Are you a licensed contractor?
In order to obtain a contractors license in Arizona, they must (1) meet the experience requirement for each classification; (2) have an owner or qualifying party pass two written exams, one for business and the other for the skill; (3) Provide proof of Workers’ Compensation Insurance and tax licenses from the Arizona Dept. of Revenue for state transaction privilege tax; (4) Provide proof of Tax liability bond, and Licenses bond; (5) pay a license fee and residential contractors must contribute to the Contractors’ Recovery Fund.
 Price
The other piece of advice given most often to consumers is: ”Get several bids so you can compare price.” Contractors all understand how important price is to your decision making. It is important you understand the pitfall of only considering price when there are so many other factors that affect you decision. In order for you to be able to compare price, all the bids have to be for the same project, the same products, the same specifications, and the same quality of work. Most contactors will try very hard to give you what you want at the price you want to pay. They will even find cheap products and inexpensive subcontractors to help you meet your budget. Be careful what you ask for and how you ask for it. Remember that the bid is only the starting point in your negotiations with the contractor and not necessarily the bottom line.
Keep in mind that the lowest bid may not necessarily be the best bid, and that an unusually low bid may be cause for alarm. In this case, the contractor may not fully understand the scope of work; may be inexperienced and is underestimating the amount of labor and materials required: or may be planning to cut corners by using inferior materials, low-paid, inexperienced workers, or not following local building codes. You could end up paying to repair or replace work much sooner than if your project was done right the first time with qualified workers and quality materials.
 The Estimate
A good contactor will not put a dollar amount on the back of a business card and hand it to you. A contactor should prepare a complete Proposal that refers to the scope of work. It should be broken down in different areas with the price clearly spelled out and with specific brands and models spelled out. A contactor should help you establish a budget that you are comfortable with. The best contactor will listen to you and be respectful of your budget. They should share design ideas with you about your project and help you understand how your decisions and different materials affect the cost. Finally beware of contractors who refuse to give a written estimate or contract. Verbal statements never hold up in court.
 Reputation
A contractor’s reputation is one of his most valuable assets. A good contractor is very willing to share his reputation with his future clients. A reputation is something that sticks with a contractor for years. It takes years of reliable work, many satisfied customers, and enduring relationships with suppliers to build up a good reputation. The best contractor has many references, has testimonials from past customers who had projects like yours, and exhibits a history of pleasing his customers and completing jobs in a satisfactory manner.
 Communication with the Homeowner
The success of a project can hinge on the communication skills of all the people involved in the project. The good contractor understands the value and importance of clear communication. They should value your questions and practices clear communication. Furthermore, the good contractor makes sure there are no misunderstandings, asks for feedback on a regular basis.
We hope that we have helped you better understand all of the common advice given to consumers and then share all of the other elements that will help ensure a successful project. Whether you choose Ahwatukee Professional Lawn Service or another contractor, we encourage you to be proactive, do your homework, and take these factors into consideration.
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