Over time, a business may find itself in need of a contractor to perform repairs, renovations, or replace key equipment or utility areas. For example, a busy restaurant may need to repair plumbing connections, or a retailer may need to replace damaged walkways or uneven flooring. In these cases, a contractor is needed, but it can be difficult to hire one that is trustworthy and performs quality work. In today's Aegis blog post, we offer some suggestions for how business owners can get better, safer contractors for their business repairs and renovations.

Only Hire Licensed, Insured, and Bonded Contractors

One of the most important elements of hiring a good contractor, whether it's an electrician, plumber, HVAC, or general contractor, is to ensure they are licensed, insured, and bonded. When a contractor is licensed, it means they have the training and experienced needed in their specific industry, and have also obtained necessary licenses and permits from state or local governments to perform their work. Being insured means the contractor has insurance policies in place to protect your business, their business, and their workers in the event of an accident or damages. Bonded contractors guarantee that they will do their work in compliance with their contractor license and within codes and regulations.

Hiring a licensed and bonded contractor can help ensure the work is done correctly, in accordance with local permits and guidelines, and with a level of financial protection in place in the event of a disaster. When a company hires a contractor who is not licensed, insured, or bonded, they run the risk of having shoddy work performed in an unsafe way, which could lead to liability claims and added expenses later.

Ask For Referrals from Within Your Industry

Another great way to hire good, reliable, and competitively priced contractors is to reach out to others within your industry for recommendations. For example, a restaurant in need of refrigeration repairs or a retailer in need of HVAC replacement can reach out to other restaurants or retailers for recommendations of trustworthy contractors. Often, businesses within your same industry understand your exact contractor needs, and can make better recommendations than those outside the industry. A business that finds a great contractor is likely to recommend them to others, even industry competitors, for the sake of helping their contractor's business grow.

Get All Costs in Writing

Finally, the most important part of having a positive contractor experience is getting everything in writing, including the time frame for the project, project scope, labor costs, cost of goods, fees for project delays, and payment expectations. Without these details in writing, companies could face a financial hardship if the project is not completed by the contractor as requested, or if the final cost of materials and goods is much higher than quoted in person. A handshake deal or agreement over text or email might not be considered legally binding if a company has a dispute with their contractor, and it could create animosity and financial strain for both parties. A written, detailed contract signed by both parties ensures that the contractor does the work at the rate quoted in the time frame specified, and that the contractor is paid in a timely manner in accordance with the contract.

When a business needs services from a contractor, it's important to make that you're entrusting your repairs or replacement with a contractor you can rely on. Aegis Insurance & Financial Services is also committed to helping companies in need of urgent repairs or business renovations by making sure their business is protected with quality Commercial Insurance coverage. For covered events, Commercial Property Insurance may be able to help cover repairs or asset replacement in the event of damages, losses, theft, or fire. Contact Aegis Insurance at 713-850-7622 for more information, or fill out our online form to request a free quote!