In this digital age where everyone has a voice and can state their opinion in 144 characters or less, it is becoming less and less difficult to discover which businesses are reputable and reliable as opposed to those that aren’t. The days of calling around to your friends, family, and acquaintances to find a good handyman are fading away; pushed aside by the advent of the online review. A quick search of the Interwebs will not only give you a dozen or more businesses within a 5 mile radius, but will also cough up feedback from a hundred or more customers and the construction industry is no exception. If you are looking for a good contractor, look no further than all-mighty Google. Be warned however, that there are a few rules to follow when searching for someone to hire by their reviews; guidelines that will ensure that you find the best company for your construction needs. Learn more about Choosing a Contractor Through Online Reviews…
Number of Contractor Reviews
Although more reviews doesn’t always mean that the contractor is more reputable, it does mean that you will have a larger information base to glean information from. A handyman that only has 8-10 comments on his work may simply indicate that his clients are not usually prone to review online. On the other hand, a roofing company with 200-300 reviews will let you track the company’s overall quality. You’ll be more likely to get an average of the contractor’s work if there is more feedback to research from.
Wording of Reviews
Customers aren’t the only ones who can leave reviews. Many companies, from app designers to product manufacturers, are able to post anonymously and give their own companies good reviews. These can be hard to spot, but if you look closely at the phrasing of the posts, you may be able to spot a phony. Look for posts that read like an advertisement or seem too good to be true. If a reviewer simply says that “this company was the best I’ve ever hired because they did a great job and I will always hire them again!”, it’s a 50/50 chance that they aren’t a true customer. In the cases of contractors, look for posts with specific details about the job or project.
On the flip side of this, be wary of reviewers that rip on the company in a general way as well. Although these may come from angry customers, it’s also possible that someone is trolling the business for whatever reason.
Recent Contractor Reviews
The quality of a business changes over time; some for the better, some for the worse. Basing your decision on a review from 2 or 3 years ago is never a good thing. For contractors, don’t look any farther back than 1 to 1.5 years. In that time, the company may have changed hands, hired a new crew, bought new equipment, or be in the middle of a legal battle. Keep your search to recent months and you will have a more accurate snapshot of the contractor.
Business Responses
Most review sites will allow a contractor to rebut or reply to a bad review. They can explain their side of the story or try to make amends. Keep in mind that not all businesses are aware of or take the time to do this. This doesn’t mean that they don’t care; just that they may not have the time or knowledge. For those that do respond, however, look for the way they handle complaints. Do they use a professional voice or do they try to throw it back on the customer? Maturity here usually denotes a more professional contractor.
Multiple Sources
Not all sites are equal. For a better sampling of reviews, visit a multitude of different sites: Angie’s List, Yelp, BBB, Google Reviews, etc.
By keeping these guidelines in mind, you will be much more likely to find a contractor that will be professional and reputable. Look carefully and make certain that your research is thorough and wide spread. Then go ask your friends and family…
Feel free to call True Performance Real Estate today and any questions you might have about Choosing a Contractor for Home Repair in Colorado!
Call: 303-317-6311