HBAberks.org I 610.777.8889
START AT THE VERY BEGINNING — A Very Good Place to Start Professional trade organizations, like the Home Builders Association of Berks County (HBA), are the best places to begin your search. The criteria for membership in these associations are stringent; therefore, only the most professional and ethical companies become members. What’s more, education & continuous improvement are in the members’ blood. They know about the latest building materials & gizmos on the market, understand permitting & inspections, and know the difference between a contract, change order, and punch list (and why each legally protects both of you during the course of your project while keeping communication lines open). There are many additional professional trade associations for specialty contractors that can also be used to aid in your search. Though the best-of-the-best excavators, plumbers, roofers, landscapers, etc., make it a point of joining their local HBA of Berks County (www.HBAberks.org), they often are members of their specialty trade association as well to gain knowledge specific to their trade. A quick web search for the area you are researching followed by the words “trade association” is a great place to start. Thus, when looking for a kitchen designer, a web search for “kitchen trade association” will reveal the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Similarly, a search for “Electrician Trade Association” will land you at the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC).
certifications, designations, and education as well. Does this mean you should only consider those with letters after their names and education under their belt? Absolutely not! Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg all ran/run incredibly successful businesses without completing their education. They, however, are the exception, not the norm. Give education weight in your decision-making process.
HOW DO YOU INTERVIEW THE CANDIDATES? Treat your research seriously and prepare for the process. After you build a list of potential contractor candidates, spend time organizing your thoughts & preparing your questions before meeting with the first contractor candidate. At each interview, observe how each candidate reacts and responds. Don’t be afraid to take notes.
HOW TO DECIDE? You probably have a budget already in mind and know how much you are willing to pay. If not, maybe you are planning to “get three quotations and pick the lowest.”
IS BIGGER BETTER or Does Smaller Surpass? Just because a company has a bunch of employees, advertises all-the-time, or “has done 10 projects in your neighborhood” doesn’t mean that they have quality service or are proficient at the trades. On the other hand, smaller companies are not necessarily more detail-oriented or faster to respond just because they have fewer customers. There are good large companies and good small companies. You must determine which is right for you. As a rule, contractors who are constantly improving themselves and their businesses through continual education, training, and networking often make the best contractors (and their businesses come in all sizes). Let their credentials, experience, and expertise be your guide, not the size of their company. Gravitate toward those contractors that are certified experts by outside trade associations or agencies. Consider more seriously those contractors that regularly attend trade shows and conventions in their industry. Education is paramount. Would you want a teacher teaching your children if she had never been to school herself ? Or, an accountant without an accounting degree and the letters CPA (Certified Public Accountant) after his name advising you on your finances? Contractors have
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