We're Strongly Established
How strongly established should the company be? How can you find out?
Progressive has been serving your neighborhood in the Los Angeles area since 1978, and we have built a strong reputation. But anyone can say that. How can you verify it?
Important Note: Find out how long they have been in business (Learn a little secret most contractors hope you'll never find out)
The length of time they have been in business and their experience is a key part of your decision making process. This is not to say that a young company can't offer good service, but without the longevity you can't know if they will be around to handle customer service and warranty issues in the future. We all know that more new businesses fail than succeed, so it's important to feel secure they will be around down the line if you need them.
One way to check and see how long they have been in business is by their license number. If the number starts with a 4 or 5, they have been in business long enough to be stable, and will likely be around a while longer, but they aren't as old as Methuselah. If their license starts with a 6, 7 or 8, BE CAREFUL, especially if they tell you they've been around for 20 years or more. Contractors have been known to say they've been around for 25 years in their line of work, when in fact their license number starts with a 7 or 8, and the Contractors License Board website (www.cslb.ca.gov) reveals they've been in business less than 5 years. If they try to mislead you about that, what else will they want you to believe?
Check with the Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) is a great source for that information on ANY company you are thinking about hiring. The BBB has a rating system that scores businesses on several factors, like how long they have been in business, type of business, compliance with competency licensing requirements, complaint volume, compliance history, seriousness of complaints, how the company responds to complaints, and their industry experience. The BBB scoring system results in their rating of the company's reliability. There are a total of eleven ratings; the highest is AAA, the lowest is an F. Whenever possible only use companies with an AAA rating. An example from the BBB web site is shown below.
"Shoddy Workmanship and Contractor Fraud are the Biggest
Complaints Among U.S. Consumers"
- U.S. Better Business Bureau
Important Note: Insist on getting a written estimate and a contract.
There are too many contractors who write the estimate on the back of their business card, or just quickly scrawl it out on a blank sheet of paper to leave with you. When this much money is involved, make sure it's all properly spelled out.
If the total cost of the project exceeds $500, by law the contract MUST be in writing.
Written estimates MUST meet L-2 to L-3 specifications. Many people are unaware that there are varying levels of job bid specifications. Most contractors provide an L-0 (no written bid) or an L-1 (basic receipt or invoice). The minimum you should accept is an L-2 estimate; this details the type and amount of materials to be used. Even better is to get an L-3 estimate which lists measurements, estimated time to be spent on the job and details the type and amount of materials to be used. Always make sure the bid has the contractor's signature on it.
Going With What "Appears" To Be The Lowest Bid Could Be The Single Biggest Mistake You Can Make
Don't be fooled by the lowest estimate contractor or the "if you sign today" price; they are usually anxious to make the deal and move on to the next customer. The facts are that most contractors work on about the same profit margin. This means they have to do a higher volume by focusing on speed and not quality. Get three estimates and apply the checklist from our Window Buyer's Guide to each one. The decision on what contractor to use will be evident.
