If you want to add a new porch, patio, or other outdoor living area to your home, you will need the help of an experienced construction company like ours at All Seasons Outdoor Spaces. Unfortunately, not all construction companies are equally skilled or honest, so it’s important to carefully research and interview each candidate before you decide who to hire. In this article, our team will go over a few red flags to watch out for when making your decision.
The first thing to keep an eye out for is a vague contract. When you reach out to construction companies about a project, each one will give you a quote and a contract for the job. If the contract is vague on the details, we recommend going with a different team that provides more concrete information. Make sure the contract includes everything you expect from the project before you sign.
Another red flag is a construction company that can’t provide good references, so as part of your interview with each contractor, you should ask for a list of client references. Contacting past clients is a great way to learn more about the construction company and its past results, as you will get a first-hand account of the client’s experience with the team. If the company can’t provide any references, that’s a bad sign, and we recommend taking your business elsewhere.
The final cause for concern we want to point out is companies that require a huge down payment. It’s standard practice for a construction company to ask for a down payment on a project. However, the usual down payment is around 10-25% of the total quote. If a construction company asks for more than that up front, we would consider that a red flag, and we encourage you to go with a different team.