Do you have a big construction project you need or a garden that needs renovations? Well, after you’ve done all the little pieces, you may want to think about hiring an entrepreneur to do the rest of the work in a high quality way.
However, you don’t just want to pick the first person you see online. Unfortunately, there are people out there who will try to trick you by posing as a suitable company. Therefore, you need to be smart and take your time while choosing a company or individual to hire.
If you’re wondering how best to protect yourself from scammers, read on. Here are 3 tips to help you stay safe while hiring workers.
1. Check their Certificates
When you check a company, whether you find them online or call to get a price, check the company’s certificates.
You can ask about the insurance the company has in case of damage. See what contractors can do, as some of them might perform the role of an electrician as well as builders, but make sure you know what they can and cannot do.
You also want to make sure that the merchants can complete contract work within your area and have the right licenses. You can learn more about what these licenses cover by searching for websites that provide state licenses, contract courses, and NASCLA exam prep materials.
It may seem a bit extreme to do this amount of interrogation, but you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble later down the line. Also knowing ahead of time that all workers are qualified, with the right licenses, insurance and skills, will give you peace of mind.
2. Check out the Reviews and Ask Around
One of the fastest and most effective ways to check if a company is legit is to check their online reviews and ask other people what their experience was like. Some companies will have their reviews readily available. For others, you may have to become a detective and search around. First, check out a few different review websites to gauge the overall standard of some companies or independent contractors.
This is the best time to send some messages to friends and family and see which ones they might recommend or, conversely, which ones they would avoid. Word-of-mouth reviews are just as valuable (if not more so) as the ones you find online.
3. Take a look at their website
Most of your research will likely be done online, so from the first click, you can assess how reliable a company can be. Take a look around the website before you start reading too deeply about the services offered. Watch out for anything feeling off or suspicious.
First, if you open the site and it seems like it hasn’t been updated in 10 years, you may want to step back quickly. Then, if you enter the site and there are a lot of spelling mistakes, repeated content or anything that seems poorly maintained, it will cause you to raise an eyebrow.
Anything you see that makes you feel a little suspicious or anxious about a website, go away.
Start Exploring
No matter the size of the project, it is an expensive endeavor to hire a contractor. You want to give yourself the best opportunity to avoid cheaters and hire the most legitimate entrepreneur or company for the job.
It might be a little superfluous to research and question your desired entrepreneur, but in fact, you may save yourself a lot of trouble later. Be safe out there!
Watch this space for more information on that. Stay tuned to Feeta Blog for the latest updates about Architrcture, Lifestyle and Interior Design.
