Mar 14 2008
ReliableRemodeler.com, a trusted home improvement resource for homeowners looking for local, quality contractors, has compiled the results of a survey on homeowner experiences with and opinions about hiring a contractor. No matter what their past experience with contractors was, the majority of homeowners agreed that the quality of work and the price of a contractor are the most important factors when hiring someone for a home improvement project.
Overall, 38 percent of homeowners stated that quality of work was the most important consideration when choosing a contractor. Thirty-five percent of homeowners said price was the most important factor for them. For homeowners who were unsatisfied with the last contractor they hired, 66 percent said they were unsatisfied due to the quality of work.
Men were more concerned with price than women. Forty-six percent of men stated that price was most important to them compared to 24 percent of women. Workmanship was second most important to men, while women chose workmanship and customer service as their two top criteria for hiring a contractor.
"Everyone wants the highest quality for the best price," said Eric Doebele, Founder of ReliableRemodeler.com. "It's no surprise that workmanship and price came out as the two most important values. However, we always advise homeowners that the lowest price doesn't necessarily mean the best workmanship. After receiving an estimate, it's always important to check references and look at past work before hiring a contractor."
Eighty-one percent of homeowners stated they were satisfied with the last contractor they hired. This could be attributed with a large number of homeowners doing their homework before hiring anyone to work on their home. Fifty-six percent of homeowners checked references, licenses and insurance backgrounds of contractors before starting a project.
The majority of homeowners found their past contractors by recommendation from a family member or friend. Thirty-eight percent of homeowners found a contractor via a recommendation, 16 percent from the phonebook, 11 percent from the newspaper, and seven percent from various sources on the internet. Twenty-three percent of homeowners had never hired a contractor before.