Cheap vs. Expensive Contractors: What You’re Really Paying For

If you own a home, you know about the high cost of home improvements. Whether you're remodeling your kitchen or fixing your roof, maintaining your house can be expensive.

When you're hiring Connecticut contractors, it's tempting to hire low-cost contractor businesses to do the work. While this can save a little money from time to time, hiring low-cost contractors is a gamble. All contractors have costs. The difference is often not the price, but what you're paying for. 

The Risks of Hiring Low-Cost Contractors

Low-cost contractors save money in many ways, often to the detriment of the work product and the client. These businesses operate at low prices by cutting corners. 

• Unskilled labor. Experienced, careful workers require higher wages. Contractors that pay less are not able to afford reliable workers with proper training and skills. 
• Unreliable service. Lower-cost contractors operate with tight margins, too many clients, and no wiggle room for changes. It's hard to fulfill promises under these circumstances, and the result is unreliable service. 
• Poor craftsmanship. Low-cost contractors have to get the work done extra quickly just to keep up. Work that is done fast may not be done right. The result is poor craftsmanship and frequent errors. 
• Low-quality materials. Low-quality materials may look fine when first installed, but they don't last. 

Hiring contractors that operate this way can lead to stress, disputes, and ultimately, hiring another contractor to repair the damage.

High-End Contractors: What You're Gaining

When you hire an established, reputable Connecticut contractor to complete your home improvements, you'll gain more than just a beautiful finished product. The entire experience is improved, from start to finish.

Outstanding Customer Service

High-end contractors offer premium customer service. These businesses have the structure and policies in place to treat customers right. They call back promptly and provide training to office staff to ensure that each customer is handled with care. Outstanding customer service manifests in many ways. 

• Polite, clear communication from the entire team
• Deadlines and timelines are provided and taken seriously
• There is transparency about what the team can and can't do
• Focus on ensuring a less stressful experience for clients 

Ultimately, these practices help ensure a better experience because customers and contractors stay on the same page throughout the project.

Excellent Communication

Good contractors respond to questions quickly and accurately. They choose their communication methods and words thoughtfully. Good contractors offer clear written and verbal communication and have brochures or pamphlets to help educate and communicate with clients from the very start. 

Good contractors use strong contracts to communicate the scope of work, as well as what is (and is not included) in the price. These strong contracts protect both parties and can help prevent disputes. 

Accurate Bidding

Bidding is difficult. Inaccurate bidding is a common problem among low-cost contractors. Some don't even know they're doing it. Underbidding can cause disputes and may leave the homeowner and contractor feeling at odds with one another. 

Good contractors know the pitfalls of bidding and have well-thought-out bidding practices. High-end contractors have refined bidding practices. They may have taken classes to improve their bidding skills, and many use sophisticated software to ensure accurate bidding. Some contractors even have bidding professionals who do this kind of work exclusively. 

High-end contractors also recognize the value of transparency and clarity in bidding. These businesses know what consumers need to know about the cost of their project, so this information is communicated clearly from the early stages.

Quality Materials and Craftsmanship

Good contractors use quality materials that last a long time. High-quality materials may cost more upfront, but they last longer than low-quality materials. The longer the materials last, the more the homeowner saves.

Red Flags to Avoid

If you're conducting a home improvement project, watch out for these red flags. These problems could be a sign that your contractor is cutting corners or isn't bidding accurately.

• Bid is dramatically lower than the competition. Vet multiple contractors before deciding which one to hire. Watch out for businesses that bid much lower than the competition. Ask yourself why this bid is so low. Dig deeper to find out if the cost savings are worth the risk.  
• Bid is unprofessional or unclear. If your contractor offers a bid that is unclear, poorly presented, or does not reflect all the work that needs to be done, be cautious about hiring that contractor. Don't accept a bid that makes you feel uncomfortable. 
• Contractor does not put changes in writing. Beware of a contractor that is willing to make changes to the project but does not offer a new bid with updated pricing. The bid you accept should be an accurate representation of the work to be done, including final costs.
• Contractor demonstrated poor customer service from the beginning. Did the contractor show up late to discuss your project? Did the contractor have poor listening skills or poor communication generally? These problems are likely to get worse after the contractor has been hired for the job. Find a contractor you can depend on from the start. 

Contact a Contractor You Can Trust

Hiring a Connecticut contractor can be tough. Sorting through the expensive contractors and cheap contractors can be a big task. Knowing how to identify high-quality contractors can help ensure that your home improvement project will be a success.

Litchfield Builders provides consumers with a free guide to hiring Connecticut contractors. Download our guide for tips and information about how to hire contractors, or contact us to get started with your home improvement project.