Selecting a contractor for any project can be daunting. How can you be sure that they will deliver on what they promise? How can you determine if the price is right? Selecting the right contractor is the most critical factor in any successful construction project.

You’ll be surprised at how many questions you can ask a prospective company that aren’t just about your new windows or doors. While a good product is important, the company you choose determines the overall satisfaction of your project.

1: What’s the full name and address of the company?

Contractor selection guidelines start with a question as simple as this. Most dissatisfied owners choose low-bid and undercapitalized contractors. You should disqualify a contractor without a permanent place of business. This is a great question to start simply because if a contractor isn’t permanently established, how can you be confident they’ll complete the work? How can you be sure that future needs will be addressed? You don’t want to be the one financially responsible for a project if it fails.

Although there is no way to guarantee a business is financially stable, there are a few measures you can take to protect yourself and assure satisfaction.

Some of these steps include visiting the contractor’s place of business. Does it look well established? Does it seem like there is adequate equipment and labor available to complete your project to full satisfaction? Don’t let a low price fool you. It’s not a risk you want to take. Select a contractor who is financially committed to their business. Someone you can call in the future if a problem arises.

2: Does the company carry insurance, and is their coverage adequate to protect you AND your property?

Uninsured or inadequately insured contractors have financially harmed homeowners. You should automatically reject any contractor without proper or inadequate insurance! The certificate of insurance should outline comprehensive liability, worker’s compensation, and completed operations insurance. This will cover you in case of an accident and offers financial coverage for a failed project.

Contractor insurance policies are for one year, but be careful! Dishonest contractors often change the dates. So, make sure you are looking to see if the dates are current.

Worker Accidents: You can be sued for injuries and accidents that occur on your property. A pattern on an uninsured or under-insured contractor is the low bid. Be very wary of this. Because of the cost of worker’s comp, a contractor can save a lot of money on labor costs by operating without insurance. Without insurance, a contractor generally has no assets and nothing to lose. Therefore, you as the homeowner are put at significant risk.

3: Is the company a licensed contractor?

Automatically reject any contractor who isn’t licensed! However, don’t be fooled by a contractor with a license. Generally, licensing requirements are minimal and are poorly enforced. Another test to question a contractor’s commitment to their trade is being a member of a trade association. You can call the association to verify the answer. You will also want to ask if the contractor is taking continual educational training and staying up-to-date.

4: How long has the contractor been in business?

The more experience a contractor has, the better! Most contracting businesses (96%) fail within the first five years. If you are thinking about working with a new business, examine their references and past work carefully. Current references only reflect if the customer is happy with the work. What’s more important is long-term references. This is proof of the actual performance of a contractor’s work.

Since a failed project typically doesn’t happen immediately, new project references should carry minimal weight in your decision-making. A professional and legitimate contractor will happily and easily provide you with long-term references and will support the idea of you getting testimonials from past customers.

5: What is the contractor’s track record of handling complaints?

Any contractor who says they have never had a complaint is lying. Problems inevitably arise, but how they handle them is what really matters. Ask a contractor about their process for service requests and how they are carried out. Ensure that you are confident that if a problem or complaint arises, you and your investment will be taken care of.

6: What is the contractor’s warranty?

The warranty goes hand-in-hand with how a company solves complaints and problems. Typically, a contractor’s workmanship warranty is for one year or more. Besides the length, it’s critical to take into account the contractor’s ability and intent to stand behind what they offer. A professional contractor will often perform well beyond the written warranty because they want to build trust, customer loyalty, and referrals.

With that in mind, a manufacturer warranty is different and is usually long-term. It is imperative that the contractor is installing all products according to the manufacturer’s requirements. Otherwise, the warranty will be void. Ask for proof that the contractor is installing all products according to the manufacturer’s requirements to avoid any issues.

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