How to Find the Right Home Improvement Company
When it comes to home repair and maintenance, finding the right firm for the job is vital. We thought we would share some of our insights on this issue.
Before any other consideration, the licensing and insurance of a home improvement contractor should be active. We will get to reputation later, but first, make sure of the company standing.
- License. That license means that the contractor has met the state mandated qualifications for contractors. Think beyond the current job. If you want to sell your home down the road, the home not only needs to pass an inspection, but you want the price to reflect the improvements you had done and being able to show a licensed contractor did your work can mean a bigger payout.
- Insurance. No one wants to talk about possible injuries, but if it happens, you want to know that the contractor’s insurance policy will protect his crew, and not your homeowner’s insurance. All Pro Xteriors Inc. is licensed, bonded and insured in the state of Minnesota. Additional State License information can be found on our website, at AllProXteriors.com.
The next considerations are about how to measure whether the contractor will provide quality workmanship and how well they treat their customers.
- Experience. Choosing a contractor with experience, means you get someone with knowledge, not just of the products they install, but of the best methods of installation. All Pro Xteriors has been around since 1995 because people can trust the quality of their work. You benefit from those 25 years of experience when you choose All Pro Xteriors for your home improvement work.
- Reputation. In addition to the length of time a home improvement company has been in business, is reputation. All Pro Xteriors Inc. has a Better Business Bureau rating of A+ since 2005, when first ranked. Our tradition of honest quality work is as important to us as it is to our customers.
- Stability of staff and crew. Here at All Pro Xteriors, we use local “in-house” installation professionals all season long. We do not import temporary workers. We know our crew and they know their craft. If you have any questions about how long any of us has worked at our business, please don’t hesitate to ask. We are proud of them and of the great work they do.
- Turnaround Time. This will be a little counter intuitive. If the turnaround is too short, it might indicate a company is sacrificing quality for speed. On the other hand, when a crew has worked together for as long as ours has, the jobs run a little quicker due to the sheer efficiency of teamwork. There may be other factors that affect work timeframes: During busy seasons, even our skilled, efficient team may have slower turnaround times. Severe weather may also create delays in work.
And then there is quality and cost. The thing is that quality, can actually save you cost in the long run, and in extreme Minnesota weather, that is important to consider.
- Pricing. This might surprise you, but if pricing is super low, in the too good to be true range, it probably is too good to be true. All Pro Xteriors Inc. installs quality products that are specially designed for the EMC (Extreme Minnesota Climate) that come with an incredible warranty – the Owens Corning 50 year TruPROtection System.
- Materials Suppliers. As the warranty suggested, All Pro Xteriors Inc. uses quality materials, like roofing products from Owens Corning. Companies with a good reputation and reliable suppliers are usually a good company to work with.
- Communication. From the beginning contact, it is important that the company responds to your communication attempts. Does the company call you back timely? Do they answer your questions? All Pro Xteriors is proud that when you call, you will get an answer or a call back with an answer. We are local and we want you to get the information you need regarding your home improvement concerns.
- Contract. Even the contract can tell you about a company. It should have the company Name and contact information, job timelines and materials. Make sure you understand the wording on the contract you sign.