Wouldn’t it be wonderful if finding an experienced, quality committed contractor for your home exteriors – home improvement projects were as easy as picking the best apples? Most people, whether you’re a homeowner or a property manager, will check online to help narrow their search for “the best contractor” thinking this is the easiest, most efficient method.
HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.
Using a consumer report website, such as Angie’s List, Yelp, Google+ Local, The Better Business Bureau, Porch, etc. is one way to find contractors in your area, but here’s what you should know about how these websites represent companies, contractors and service providers.
For example, Angie’s List touts they are consumer-driven, yet 70% of their revenue comes from advertising from the companies Angie’s List rates. Companies don’t pay to be listed on Angie’s List, but companies can pay to advertise which in turn gives them higher ranks in search results. You don’t know if your search results are based on the qualifications of the contractor and the quality of their work or based on their having purchased advertising on Angie’s List.
TAKE ONLINE REVIEWS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
Because consumer report websites tend to have an anonymous reviewing process, anyone can post a review for a company without providing a real name. This means a company or contractor can post their own positive reviews and no one can tell if it’s an actual customer posting the review or not. It also means the more positive reviews, legitimate or not, the higher their company will rank in search results.
SO HOW DO I FIND THE BEST CONTRACTOR FOR MY HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS?
Checking out consumer report websites is a first step, but it shouldn’t be your only step. At Xtreme Exteriors, we believe an informed customer is a happy customer. That’s why we’ve compiled a helpful check list of important things to ask contractors before you make the hire to ensure you’ve found the best contractor for your next home exteriors improvement project.
Please note that we will never, ever sell your information to third parties.