How To Find A Contractor You Can Trust
Construction worker team hands shaking after consultation meeting for new project contract. Courtesy.
Vendor relationships are a critical component of a successful property management operation, whether you manage one home or hundreds.
Timely, Effective, Cost-efficient repairs are good for you, good for the owner’s bottom line, good for your tenants, and good for the sanity of everyone involved.
So how do you find a contractor you can trust, and trustworthy vendors
- Establish some qualification criteria – set the bar and only work with vendors who meet your standards.
- Work only with contractors who are properly licensed. If someone is unwilling to show you their current documentation, move on to the next immediately unless you’re fully convicted otherwise.
- Use your county or Gov’t agency for research, such NCA, NEMA, IEK, KPDA, KABCEC etc. This is where you would see if the contractor has had a history of complaints or violations, so look for red flags here.
Assuming you have done your homework and found a contractor who looks good on paper, the next step would be to look up online reviews and obtain some references from former and/or current clients, or from a property manager who already uses them regularly.
At Zuripo Property Specialists we perform an annual audit of our vendors and remove any who get consistently negative feedback, whether it be regarding customer service, quality of work, laxity or pricing problems.
For larger jobs, you might consider a site visit to personally see any work that the contractor has performed (or has currently under way).
And finally, a strong understanding about expectations should be in place, and it should be in WRITING.
Contractors should discuss issues with the property manager, not the tenant
A good contractor will understand that while a home may be occupied by a tenant, he or she is working on behalf of the owner.
This means that if unforeseen problems occur on a job, or the cost/scope becomes more than the original estimate, the vendor should be discussing what to do next with Property Manager ALONE (not the tenant).
Payment timelines are also important, as landlords may or may not have enough funds in their operating account readily available until next month’s rent payment arrive.
So be clear on payment due dates to ensure you’ll be able to pay on time when the invoice arrives.
As with so many other things in real property industry, it’s best to agree to these terms in writing prior to working being performed.
Ensure you compile a list of vendors in multiple industries who you can trust to do good work at fair prices and are quick to act when you call on them.
Zuripo Property Specialists has worked with sizable contractors ranging from Plumbers, Electricians, Masonries, Painters, even welders.
