WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IN A CONTRACTOR

You just got your Florida contractor’s license. Congrats! By working with Licenses, Etc., you were able to get through the license application process easily and quickly. Now it’s time to get to work! Since you just got your license you’re either a new contractor, or new to contractor work in Florida, which means you are about to start interacting with the public. When people are looking to start a project in their home, have something fixed or built, they want to work with the best, most responsible, reliable, and hardworking person out there. They want someone who delivers a great product.

Here are some of the top things people look for when hiring a contractor. Keep these things in mind to make your daily business a successful one.

1. Credentials – People often look for a contractor who has been in the business awhile with a good reputation. However, it’s not always bad if you have less experience. The most important factor is that a contractor is licensed and registered with insurance.
2. Recommendations – People often turn to friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations. People trust their loved ones, and those close to them with many things, including the name of a person who would work on their home. People will also turn to lumberyards, building inspectors, and national associations to recommend the names of local contractors that they find reliable and who always are up to code. It’s a good idea to get your name out there with the local towns and communities, so your name and work will be high on the list for recommending when someone is asked.
3. Connection – When embarking on a project, the client and the contractor will be working together for quite some time. With that said, people are looking for someone who not only will do great work at a decent price, but who is honest, reliable, and easy to communicate with. When discussing price or timeliness of a project, it’s always best to be upfront with the client and constantly update them if and when things change. Clients also need guarantees from the contractor that he/she will finish the job and not walk away from it, regardless of any unforeseen issues.  By answering questions about their project, past projects, availability, and references, clients will begin to understand the contractor’s work ethic, reliability, and dedication for the work. Communication is key, especially since the contractor will be in the client’s home for hours each day.
4. Price – Clients don’t always go with the lowest bidder. A very low bid could be a red flag to a potential client as they might think the contractor will be cutting corners or using less quality materials. Many clients worry more about if they’ll feel comfortable with the contractor in their home over how much the project will cost. However, customers will pay more if there is a higher value for their money; they want to know how and why one contractor’s work is better and more valuable than the next – this concept is what sells them and will have them willing to pay more.
5. Contract – Customers want their plans with the contractor in writing, no matter how big or small the project. The price, payment schedule, description of the work, proof of liability insurance, worker’s compensation, start date, projected completion date, materials and products, lien releases, and many other items, should be included in the contract. Contracts guarantee work will be completed successfully despite any issues along the way.

Working as a Florida Contractor

Working with the public on jobs can be very rewarding; it an opportunity to showcase your skills and talents as a contractor. Whether you’ve already received your license with our help, looking to go through the license process, or need help or advice with other contractor services, the team here at Licenses, Etc. can help! The application process for a Florida contractor’s license and other filings can be tricky and frustrating. You don’t have to go about it alone. Contact us at 239-777-1028 so we can help make your process of becoming a Florida contractor an easy one.