This may be the most beneficial thing we post. In a follow up post we plan to define“The Summey Way” by sharing how we answer each of the questions below, and also sharing why we believe these answers are the heartbeat of who we are. So stay tuned to see our answers to the following!
How long have you been in business under this name?
How long have you been operating in Dallas?
Has paying your taxes inhibited your growth?
How many employees do you have?
Who takes your calls on off hours?
What percentage of your jobs exceed the initial $ estimate?
What percentage of your jobs exceed the initial timeline estimate?
What is your guarantee on your workmanship? What is the recourse if something was completed improperly?
What are your processes for managing your jobs?
What emphasis do you place on craftsmanship?
What technologies do you use to manage jobs?
What is your philosophy on permits?
What are some names of previous clients who are not listed on your website testimonials?
How many jobs have you stopped before completion? And for what reason (you quit, owner decided to choose a new contractor, etc.)?
What do you do to give back to the community?
If you don’t ask a potential contractor these questions, you can expect extraordinary frustration as you collaborate with them. And if the company won’t give you straightforward answers to these questions, you can bet that is an indication of their integrity as well.
Bookmark this page for the next time you want to interview a contractor!
Building Right,
Tim Summey