Local business listings for Clearwater, FL
10
Last Updated:
November 30th, 2018
Visit Bath Fitter Local Profile
2030 Calumet St
Clearwater, FL 33765
12
Last Updated:
November 30th, 2018
Visit Sure Fix Garage Door Repair Local Profile
28410 US Hwy 19 N
Clearwater, FL 33761
7
Last Updated:
November 30th, 2018
Visit Clearwater Locksmith Local Profile
1185 Court Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
8
TampaBayMold.net- Clearwater FL
Tags: mold remediation Clearwater , mold remediation Clearwater , mold remediation Pinellas ParkLast Updated:
November 30th, 2018
Visit TampaBayMold.net- Clearwater FL Local Profile
13575 58th St North Suite 200
Clearwater, FL 33760
3
Last Updated:
November 30th, 2018
Visit Clearwater Garage Door Pros Local Profile
2380 Drew St, Ste 1
Clearwater, FL 33765
15
Last Updated:
November 30th, 2018
Visit The Dime Moving Company LLC Local Profile
1242 S. Highland Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
14
Last Updated:
November 30th, 2018
Visit International Granite and Stone Local Profile
12165 49th St N
Clearwater, FL 33762
10
Last Updated:
November 30th, 2018
Visit Hap's Tree Service Pros Local Profile
1026 sunset point road
Clearwater, FL 33755
31
Last Updated:
November 30th, 2018
Visit Gulf Coast Tankless Hot Water Inc. Local Profile
1600 Gulf Blvd #1112
Clearwater, FL 33767
30
Last Updated:
November 30th, 2018
Visit Handy Garage Door Repair Services Local Profile
812 Court St #55
Clearwater, FL 33756
How to Hire a Contractor in Clearwater FL You Can Trust
Hiring a home contractor in Clearwater FL can be nerve-racking. This is especially true if it's a specialized project where you don't have the opportunity to develop a long-term relationship. While there is always a chance that you can get ripped off, the good news is that most Clearwater contractors out there are honest people that care about providing good service. Here are the things to look for to make sure that the contractor you choose fits that description.
Licensed in Clearwater FL
Depending on the type of work to be performed and your location, a home contractor may or may not be required to be licensed. However, most cities and states do require or at least allow businesses to register their names with the state and local government. If a license or other registration is required, not using a contractor that hasn't complied with the requirement is a no brainer. Even if it isn't required, being able to confirm the identity of a contractor and having a way to track them down if something goes wrong is definitely beneficial.
Bonded in Clearwater FL
A bond is an amount of money deposited with a FL or Clearwater agency to provide a source of funds to pay claims against a contractor. Like with licensing, bonds may or may not be required depending on the type or work and local laws. Bonding does provide a huge layer of protection because if a contractor performs poorly or doesn't complete the job, there is a guaranteed source of money to recover from. While you can always sue in court with or without a bond, a contractor who has gone out of business or disappeared without finishing the job is practically impossible to recover from if no bond was posted.
Insured in Clearwater FL
Accidents happen to even the best Clearwater contractors, and could include workers getting hurt, injuries to neighbors or people walking by your property, or property damage to a neighbor's or your own home or vehicles. Depending on the circumstances, your homeowner's policy may or may not cover the damages. If it does, you will still likely be out of the deductible and face a premium increase. A good contractor will be insured so that they can take full responsibility for any damages that arise out of mishaps during their work.
Price Quotes
Price quotes are less black and white. A good Clearwater contractor will often be reluctant to provide a firm quote for a complex project over the phone because your home's layout or other factors can greatly affect what it will take to complete the project. To best get a feel for whether a contractor is being honest, ask questions about what could affect the price, what materials are needed, and how much time they expect the project to take. Talk to several contractors before choosing.
Depending on the nature of the project, some contractors will only give a firm quote after a home visit. They may charge a small fee for the visit because providing a good quote can be time-consuming. Don't skip a contractor who won't provide a free estimate unless you know there are several contractors in the area who do make it a standard practice to provide free estimates for similar work.
Once your quotes are in, be wary of choosing the low bidder. A slightly competitive price may be good, but if it low balls the other quotes by a lot, there is a good chance that you will receive poor work or have the contractor later trying to charge you additional fees.
Contract
Always get your price quote in writing before any work begins. A good contract should include the project deadline, whether materials are covered, what happens if expected costs change, a specific description of the work to be performed, and what happens if the work is late or unsatisfactory. A good contractor will want a good contract because it ensures they are on the same page as the customer so that they can provide good service, and it also protects them from customers who fail to pay or raise frivolous disputes.
References in Clearwater FL
Always check references -- both online and offline. The best way to find a good Clearwater contractor is to ask your friends and neighbors if they recommend anyone. Good contractors often get most of their business by word of mouth. When you search online, the main thing you're looking for is a string of complaints about a contractor. This is the most common reason people leave online reviews.
Positive online reviews are less useful because people are less likely to make time to leave them, they can easily be faked, and sites such as Angie's List may even require the Clearwater contractor to pay before they are posted. If you didn't get any personal recommendations and the online feedback about a contractor is at least neutral, the best thing to do is to ask them for references you can contact and doing the rest of the due diligence outlined above.