Is he a member of any local or state trade organizations, unions or business groups?
Request the names of any business organizations, associations or unions the contractor may be affiliated with. This is one more piece of evidence that the contractor is stable and “here to stay”! Fly-by-night contractors rarely stay in one place long enough to develop a history. Just realize that all contractors do not join these groups, so lack of membership is not a red flag… just another piece of information for you to use. Membership in benevolent groups and civic organizations is also a good indicator of responsibility and rootedness… both important considerations in your screening process. • Get at least three clearly written, understandable bids on any project… The written quote will give you first real sense of what you project will entail and how much it will cost. The quality, clarity and style of the quote will tell you a lot about the contractor and his penchant for detail. A vague or unreadable quote is useless to you, and should send up the good ol’ red flag! Clarit
