When you're considering hiring a plumber, electrician, contracting firm or any other HVAC contractor, it's essential to identify your needs and make sure that the company you're considering has the resources and experience to meet those needs. Once you know what you're looking for, you can make a more informed decision. Here are a few things to consider before selecting an HVAC contractor in Georgia. Keep reading here.
Experience:
You want to ensure that your contractor has experience working in your area. Look for a contractor who has done work in the same type of home or business you are looking to hire for.
Accreditation:
Check online to see if a reputable organization accredits your HVAC contractor. There's no guarantee that an HVAC contractor who isn't accredited will give you excellent service, but if a problem arises, an accredited company can be held accountable and could lose its professional license.
Licensing and Inspections:
Check the credentials of the companies you are considering hiring, and see whether they are licensed and let their customers know about any inspections or maintenance that has ever been performed on their systems. It's also essential to check on the companies' health inspections and Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) inspections, indicating whether violations have been cited. The inspectors should let you know if any violations have been found and what was done to correct them. Also, inquire as to whether they've received citations from other state agencies and local ones like Building Maintenance Codes Administrators (BMCAs) or fire departments for issues related to safety or health. If you see safety or health issues, find a different contractor.
Insurance policies:
Check the contractor's homeowners insurance policy and the business owner's policy to ensure that both are applicable and adequate coverage is in place. A good builder should have a comprehensive homeowner policy to cover any damage or loss from construction. If you are considering hiring someone to perform maintenance on your home, check their homeowner's insurance policy to ensure it covers the type of work you want to do and the risk level associated with it. Most contractors only insure their personal property while in progress, but it is essential to know that many policies do not extend to client property. Make sure you know what is covered by a contractor's policies.
Annual maintenance cost:
Most contractors start getting paid upon completion of the construction phase. Once your home is complete, you will have to pay them based on whether or not they have completed their work. The higher the quality of the finish and materials used to construct your home, the quicker they work and the more you can save in costs. In addition, their initial costs are usually higher than their ongoing costs, which will result in savings once your house is finished.
Excessive cost:
Once again, this may be related to the materials used and the overall quality and speed of the craft. Still, experienced contractors know how important these factors are to clients' goodwill and should price them accordingly. Choosing a lower-priced contractor may help lower your initial out-of-pocket expenses. However, you will eventually find that they also spend more time on each job and issues during construction. As a client, you may ask for additional work at no charge due to poor craft or material issues and then find a serious problem with your home and pay much more than initially expected for costly repairs or replacements. This situation can happen when a contractor does not want to discuss the price with you upfront before committing to do any further work since they know that price is one of the most critical factors related to your level of satisfaction.
These are just a few ways that you may decide that a contractor is not the right choice for you. Take the time to be well prepared and ask questions that establish your priorities in finding the right contractor at the beginning of your selection process.
Finally, ask the contractor to tell you about any document they have that shows they're in business; this should include at least a copy of their business license. Some states require contractors to provide a written contract stating the specifics of their agreement and that the licensed contractor will abide by all state codes.
