Here are answers to some of our most commonly asked questions. If you have a question though and its not on here please contact us. Our job is to educate you and provide you the best product/service possible. That starts with you contacting us and ends with us exceeding your expectation. Please call us today at 1.860.334.8054!
No. Like most businesses, there is a wide range of product offerings and a spectrum of companies providing varying levels of service and quality. Unfortunately, there are more than a few companies who take advantage of uninformed homeowners. Remember, these people deal in their industry every day. Most homeowners have never even made a major contracting investment before. It is important for you to do your homework. A few hours spent upfront can save you days of frustration and considerable expense on the back end. If you know someone who has had similar work done recently, you may want to ask them about their experience and whether or not the experience met or exceeded their expectations.
Since a knowledgeable contractor will be able to guide you through all the planning stages of the project, finding a capable contractor should be your first order of business. It will save you both time and money. Once you’ve narrowed your search, make sure that the company carries both liability and workers compensation insurance. You don’t want to end up with a lawsuit because the company you’re dealing with does not have proper insurance. Since there are as many different types of installations as there are types of homes, the important thing is to make sure the company you choose gives you detailed information on how your project will be installed. Here are some questions that will help you evaluate your contractor:
How long have they been in business?
Are their installers certified?
Are their installers covered by Workman’s Compensation insurance?
What type of warranty do they offer on installation?
If there is a service issue, who will come back to your home to take care of it?
While most people will spend some time evaluating the features of the home improvement product they want for their home, most consumers spend very little time on selecting the right company to do the work. Big mistake! Actually, finding the right company to do the work is even more critical than finding the right product. This is because once you find the right company; they will help you select the right product for your needs. Spend time researching the companies you are working with. Take time to understand what they do and how they do it. Make sure that they back up everything they tell you in writing. Furthermore, make sure everything you discuss and agree upon is written in plain English on the contract you sign.
Proper insurance coverage is extremely important. Like most insurance, it probably will not be used, but it is important for it to be there if it is needed. When having work done on your home, the probability of something going wrong is small, but the risk can be extremely high, and costly, if something does go wrong. There are two types of insurance coverage a contractor needs to have in place to protect you, Liability and Workman’s Compensation. Liability insurance protects you from damage to your home or property caused by contractor negligence or ignorance. Workman’s Compensation insurance protects you if someone is injured on your property while working on your home.
In most cases, the answer is no. Most homeowner’s policies actually exclude claims for damages and personal injury claims while work is being done on your home. Why? Because you’re insurance company can’t assess the competency and work practices of every person who might be working on your home. Since they can’t assess it, they exclude that coverage from the policy. It is your job to assess the contractor and part of that assessment is that they have proper insurance coverage in place to protect you. Ask to see copies of all insurance policies and don’t be afraid to call the insurance company to see if those policies are still valid.
A permanent place of business shows commitment and stability. How stable is a one-person operation who works out of the back of a pick-up truck? These individuals could easily decide to leave the business at any time. What if something happens to them physically? Who is going to take care of any problems you might have after the installation has been finished and you’ve paid for it. The other advantage of a permanent place of business is that you have somewhere to go if there are any future problems or issue
What does an estimate tell you about the company and the way it interacts with its customers? What does an estimate tell you about product selection and the options you have? What does an estimate tell you about the options you have? What does an estimate tell you about the company’s record of repeat and referral business? What does an estimate tell you about the insurance coverage a company may or may not have? What does the estimate tell you about the terms and conditions of the warranty? As you can see, there is a lot of information you need to have and understand. It is your hard earned money you’re going to be investing. You don’t invest in home improvements every day. In most cases, consumers don’t know what they don’t know. Take all the time you need to get your questions answered to your satisfaction and ask for them to be confirmed in writing. Any reputable company will have no problem putting the details in writing that they tell you verbally. After the job is done is too late to deal with issues such as, “I thought it was going to look like …” or “I thought I was getting …” It is your home and your money, make sure you invest wisely. Fifteen minutes is not enough time for you to assess whether or not you are getting everything you need. Conversely, it shouldn’t take more than an hour unless you have a significant number of questions. It’s okay if you do have questions, because you should.
