How to Choose a Contractor for Home Improvement Project (Without Losing Your Mind)
Having trouble deciding who to hire?
So, you’re thinking about remodeling your home. Maybe the kitchen’s outdated, the bathroom needs a refresh, or your roof is starting to look like it belongs to a haunted house. Whatever the project, one of the first things you’re likely do is start looking for a contractor, assuming you’re not doing it yourself, of course (if you were, you likely wouldn’t be reading my blog!). And if you’ve done even a little bit of research online, you’ve probably found yourself drowning in an ocean of articles, reviews, and ads—all claiming to have the perfect solution.
But let me save you some time: If you want real value for your money, it’s not that difficult. Just follow these guidelines: Hire a contractor who has done tons of work on homes like yours, in neighborhoods like yours, tell them your goals, and take their advice. That’s it.
Let’s break it down.
Why Online Research Will Never Make You an Expert
The internet is full of well-rehearsed sales pitches. Every product has a glossy marketing page, every contractor has a list of glowing testimonials, and every “expert” on YouTube has an opinion on why their way is the best. But when it comes to home remodeling, experience matters way more than what you can learn from a few hours (or days) of reading online. Even more so, the right kind of experience is critical.
For example, in roofing—which is my world—there are hundreds of options when selecting and installing a new roof, and every single manufacturer claims their product is the best. Also, keep in mind that just about 100% of what you read on the web is placed there for a business reason, so there is a bias from the outset. Would you report all the downsides of your product or business in your web content? Me, neither! The truth is what works beautifully on a warehouse in Arizona might be a disaster on a 1920s row house in San Francisco. You can’t Google your way to that kind of knowledge—it only comes from experience.
The Hard Truth: Every Contractor Will Tell You They’re the Best
You could get five bids for the same project, and every contractor will tell you why they’re the best choice. They’ll all say they use “high-quality material,” even throwing around some brand names so you’ll Google the manufacturer’s website and see how wonderful they are. They’ll all promise great service. Some might even try to dazzle you with a “new and improved” material or method that sounds amazing but has limited use in the field.
The reality is easily realized if you take a step back for a moment: Choosing a contractor who has been doing solid work in your neighborhood for many years (the more, the better), and someone with a deep backlog of projects similar to yours means you’re much more likely to get a great result. Why? Because they’ve already made all the mistakes, and worked out the kinks - on someone else’s home! They know what products hold up over time, they know what permits and codes apply, they know the inspectors, they know the suppliers, they know the products, they know the details, and they aren’t learning their trade on your house. It just makes sense, doesn't it?
The Big Mistake: Chasing the Newest, Shiniest Thing
It’s tempting to go with the contractor offering the latest and greatest material or technique. I get it—everyone loves an upgrade. But in home remodeling, and you should trust me here, tried and true beats new and shiny every time. Contractors who have been around the block know what works. They’ve seen which materials age well and which fall apart in short order. They know which installations hold up in bad weather and which ones start leaking the first time it rains. When you work with someone experienced, you’re not just paying for labor—you’re paying for wisdom. That’s more valuable than any fancy material specification. To summarize this point plainly: The most fabulous material ever devised installed by a poor technician is a bad job, and and average product installed by a great field technician will be a good job. It’s that simple.
The Truth About Prices: Why the Lowest Bid is Usually the Worst Choice
Good contractors are never the cheapest, so get used to that fast. If you get five bids and one of them is significantly lower than the rest, that’s a red flag, not a bargain. Low prices and unusually long warranties are tactics used by shaky or inexperienced contractors to lure homeowners away from solid, established companies. Don’t fall for it.
While paying the highest price doesn’t guarantee the best job, paying the lowest price almost always guarantees problems. And here’s the kicker—those problems don’t show up right away. Every new roof, kitchen remodel, or bathroom upgrade looks clean and fresh when the job is done. It’s only after years or service, and most often long after the low-bid contractor has disappeared, that issues with poor workmanship and cheap materials start to show up and cost money and grief.
Experienced contractors charge what they do because they know what it takes to do the job right. They use quality materials that have earned their trust, skilled labor that reduces the number of problems that everyone hates later, and they stand behind their work if you need them after the fact. If someone is offering you a price that seems too good to be true, you can be certain there’s a good reason.
The Smart Way to Choose a Contractor
If you want real value for your remodeling dollar, follow this simple approach:
Find a contractor who has done a lot of work on houses like yours. If they’ve completed dozens (or hundreds) of similar jobs, they probably know what they’re doing.
Tell them your goals. Are you looking for durability? Aesthetic upgrades? A budget friendly fix? The more they know, the better advice and direction they can offer.
Take their advice. A seasoned contractor isn’t just there to execute your vision— they’re there to help you make good decisions. It’s in their best interest to be professional and honest.
Pay their price. If you trust their experience, don’t nickel-and-dime them. A good contractor charges what they do because they know what it takes to do the job right. They know how to account for contingencies and after-sale service.
Stay away from low bidders. If a price seems low, there’s a reason: they’re missing something or cutting corners. Cheap work isn’t cheap. It often leads to expensive problems down the road.
Bottom Line
Choosing a contractor doesn’t have to be complicated. Skip the endless research, ignore the flashy sales pitches, and go with someone who has a long track record of success in your area. Tell them what you want to achieve, trust their expertise, and be willing to pay for quality. Do that, and you’ll get real value —and a home upgrade that actually lasts and solves your problems. Easy!
Author: Chris Testa, Sales and Estimations, Sure Roofing
