How to Find a Quality Home Improvement Contractor in Virginia & Maryland

With Fall just around the corner, you might be thinking about carrying out some home improvements in time for the new season. Perhaps your windows need replacing, or maybe you need siding installed in preparation for the cooler months ahead. There might be a few DIY projects that you can do over the course of a weekend, but for the bigger jobs, it is best left to the professionals. Finding a quality home improvement contractor in Virginia or Maryland can be a bit of a process, but it is worth going through the necessary steps to find the best and most reliable contractor for the job. Here are a few tips on finding a quality home improvement contractor in Virginia or Maryland for your next project.

Do a check online for home improvement contractors in Virginia and Maryland

The best place to begin your search for a quality home improvement contractor is online. The important thing to remember when doing your search, however, is that you want to ensure you are staying local. Choosing a local contractor in Virginia or Maryland means that the company has a permanent place of business there. It also means that the company should have a business license, telephone number and local references you can use to verify their work. It is a good idea to stay local because it means someone will be close by if there are any issues or problems in the future..

Customer review sites like Angie’s List  and Yelp! are a good place to start when beginning your search for a quality contractor in Virginia or Maryland. It is also a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau for reviews and information on the company.

Get advice from your insurance company 

Another way to find a quality home improvement contractor in your local area is by asking your insurance company for a recommendation.. Some insurance companies will have agreements in place with reliable local contractors, which means you know you will be in safe hands. Also, your insurance company will have already carried out background and performance checks on the home improvement contractor, which saves you the time and hassle of having to do it yourself. And, you might even receive a discount based on the relationship between your insurance company and the contractor. 

Ask friends and family 

If you want firsthand reliable information about local Virginia or Maryland home improvement contractors, ask your friends, family or even your neighbors who they have used in the past. Make sure you find out if they had any issues with their home improvement contractor and if they did, ask if they were agreeably resolved. 

Check the home improvement contractor’s license and insurance

Once you have created a short list, call the contractors and ask for their license numbers and certificates of insurance. All contractors in Virginia and Maryland are required by law to have a business license, as well as insurance. When you receive their business license number, you can then find out if the contractor is legally in business. And, a certificate of insurance means that the contractor is protected should anything go awry.

Get everything down in writing

Make sure you get a detailed written quote for labor and material costs, and that you understand what is, and is not, included. Also, it is a good idea to ask for a note on your quote that says you must be notified if anything changes or there are additional costs to the original agreed upon quote. This ensures that you and your wallet will be covered in case any unexpected charges pop up when it is time to settle the invoice. 

Do not pay for everything upfront

A good quality home improvement contractor will never ask you to pay for the entire project in advance. It is quite common for a contractor to ask for a deposit before work to cover materials, but be extremely cautious of a contractor who asks for everything to be paid upfront.

By using the tips above, you can ensure you are finding an honest and top quality contractor for your next home improvement project.

Windows on Washington is a locally owned and operated company in Maryland and Virginia.  If you’re looking for a quality home improvement contractor for your next project, request a quote and experience the WoW difference.