How to Avoid Bad Home Improvement Contractors

Remember: some are bad,
but others are very good.

Everyone knows that home improvement companies are not a good lot, taken generally, but there are many right in here in the Detroit area which are absolutely nothing short of superb. Here's the big problem: a quick web search won't tell you much of anything at all. Why? Because the search listings at Google, Bing and Yahoo are filled with bogus complaints (at least most are) from dubious would-be consumer protection sites like Rip-Off Report, Consumer Online Protection, Complaints Board and similar. These sites take any complaint at all and post it to the web, and even if the complaint is nonsense (many seem to be posted about company X by someone working for company Y across town), or if it has been fully addressed by the contractor. You have to remember that some people are not very reasonable; they sign a contract to get a service and it costs them more than they'd like (but not more than quoted), and then they go and post a nasty complaint. Moreover, some people just don't know what they're talking about--people claim that condensation on a window (which is a function of the dew point in the home and the temperature of the glass) is evidence of "leaky" windows--no, seriously. No one is immune to this in the Metro-Detroit/Ann Arbor market: Hansons, Majic, WeatherGard, Wallside--no one.

So how do you get the right contractor when you're looking to have that new roof installed, or those new windows put in? Your first stop is the Better Business Bureau. I grant that the BBB doesn't walk on water, but it's surely better than totally unfiltered fake complaint sludge. So, do three things: (1) check if the contractor is accredited, (2) if accredited, ensure that the rating is 'A+' and absolutely no lower, (3) read the reviews. If a contractor fails either (1) or (2), look elsewhere. If (3) reveals a preponderance of dissatisfied customers, look elsewhere. Otherwise, keep the contractor on your list of possibilities.

Next, get some quotes, and test the salesperson's honesty in the usual way. For example, when the salesperson shows you a great, high quality window or siding product, and then offers you a price that seems low, verify which product the quote specifies. Salespeople often show off their highest quality product and then quote the lowest quality product, giving the customer a false impression that they're getting a sweet deal. This kind of thing is common, but not universal in the home improvement industry. You could also ask about the product warranties when the salesperson is in your home, and inquire about whether a particular kind of problem (call it problem P) is covered. Later, call the company as if you're a former customer and ask what your options are now that your window has got problem P. If you get anything less than a firm assurance that the problem is indeed covered, hang up and forget about the company in question.

If you really cannot find a good contractor for your project, give Glenn Hagee a call.