Omaha Home Improvement Contractors
Selecting the Best Siding Contractor
Certified Siding Professionals is a James Hardie Preferred Remodeler for the Omaha and surrounding area. We have received this status from James Hardie for being complaint with all James Hardie manufacturer’s specifications, installation best practices, BBB accredited rating, background checks, and many more. We use James Hardie as our preferred siding as it resists the moisture and rot and it ends the need for scraping and repainting in the future because we only want to have you select a siding contractor once.
Choosing the right siding contractor can be difficult; we at Certified Siding Professionals try to make it easy with our detailed project proposal so you the customer are informed with all aspects of the project before, during, and all the way till the end.
Selecting the Best Window Contractor
Certified Siding Professionals offer an extensive line of replacement windows designed for just about any home as a preferred window contractor with Builder Supply and Pella of Omaha.
Replacement windows are only as good as the company that stands behind them! Certified Siding Professionals has the expertise you need to install your new windows properly and exactly according to manufacturer’s specifications. You should expect no less!
Make sure your window contractor is an EPA Lead Safe Certified Firm.
Selecting the Best Roofing Contractor
In selecting a roofing contractor installation is the key, if shingles are incorrectly installed, not only do you run the risk of water infiltration into your home, but warranty nullification. Nothing is more disheartening than finding out your warranty is null and void because the installers nailed the shingles improperly ( not enough, or the wrong location…). Be aware during the storm recovery period of out-of-state contractors and crews; make sure you select a local company registered with the Better Business Bureau.
Certified Siding Professionals has over twelve years of roofing contractor experience locally in Nebraska and Iowa and offer a full range of roofing services.
Critical Factors in Selecting a Contractor
The critical success factor in any construction project, is the contractor you work with. A qualified, professional, experienced home improvement contractor knows what results are required for Owner satisfaction, as well as, what will lead to dissatisfaction down the road.
Allow yourself a minimum of 1 hour to sit down with each contractor. Both of you need to explore the problems, products, and prices. You will be surprised at how many options and questions can be discussed with a professional contractor.
Taking only 1 hour of time getting to know and qualifying the contractor prior to awarding your project can save endless hours of time dealing with problems down the road.
Most homeowner dissatisfaction involves a customer who did not fully understand what they selected or to what they committed themselves. A professional contractor will take pride in his work and will have no problem discussing your options, his previous experience, and his list of satisfied customers.
Make sure that you ask the following 6 questions to make sure that you select the best Omaha Home Improvement Contractor for your next project…
1. Does the company carry insurance? Is the coverage adequate?
When deciding on an Omaha siding contractor, Omaha roofing contractor or Omaha replacement windows contractor, be sure that the company can provide specific, detailed information about their insurance coverage.
Homeowners have been financially harmed by uninsured or inadequately insurance contractors. Automatically reject any contractor without proper and adequate insurance.
A contractor should provide you with a Certificate of Insurance for Comprehensive Liability, Worker’s Compensation, and Completed Operations Insurance that protects you in the event of an accident or provides financial coverage for a failed project. The insurance should be adequate to cover the property. Contractors may also carry other forms of insurance, such as health insurance and vehicle insurance. Do not be confused by these policies. Do not allow the contractor to pass them off as his proof of “contractor’s” insurance.
A professional contractor will readily provide you with a Certificate of Insurance and phone numbers you can call for verification.
2. Is the company a licensed, registered contractor, and a member in good standing of a professional trade association?
Automatically reject any Omaha contractor who is not licensed. If a problem should occur with an unlicensed contractor you have little recourse.
At the same time, do not be fooled by a contractor with a license. Generally, the license requirements are minimal and the law is generally poorly enforced. A better test is to question the contractor’s commitment to his trade. Is he a member of a professional trade association? This will indicate a commitment to the industry and an intention to stay in the business.
Reject the contractor who blows off your questions as not being important. There may other issues he deems unimportant and will blow off, including your satisfaction!
3. How long has the company been in business?
The more experience the better. Less than five years of existence is often a sign of a potentially unstable business. Most contracting businesses – 90%! – fail within the first five years. Examine a new business with extreme care before awarding the project.
Check references carefully. Current references are valuable to see if the owner is happy with the contractor’s work. But long-term references are the proof of the actual performance of the contractor’s work and the materials used.
Most problematic home improvement projects do not fail quickly, but deteriorate over a period of years. New project references should carry minimal weight in the decision making process vs. long-term projects. A professional contractor will gladly provide references and encourage you to speak with past customers. Automatically reject any Omaha contractors who can’t – or won’t – provide a reference list of customers.
4. What is the home improvement contractor’s record for complaint resolution?
Automatically reject any contractor who says they never had a complaint. Even the very best contractors find themselves in disputes for one reason or another.
Ask the contractor for the name of a problem account and explanation as to how they rectified the complaint.
Be forewarned that many quality contractors, in business for a long period of time, and with thousands of completed projects, are exposed to disputes. The question is, not if they have had disputes, but what was done about the dispute after it occurred. Were they resolved to the customer’s satisfaction?
TIP: One easy way to find out how a contractor handles customer complaints is by calling the Better Business Bureau.
5. What is the company’s workmanship warranty?
Typically, contractor workmanship warranties are for one year or more. Longer warranties are not more valuable than shorter warranties. The length of the warranty is less important than the intent and ability of the contractor to stand behind his warranty. The professional contractor often performs well beyond the written warranty period because he knows that this is what builds customer loyalty and referrals.
Automatically reject any contractor with an unbelievably attractive warranty. It is likely just a sales tool for that contractor who has no intention of honoring it.
The long-term materials warranty is provided by the manufacturer. It is critical to be assured that the product will be installed according to the manufacturer specifications, or there will be no warranty regardless the document you were provided.
With many materials, the warranty is often only valid if the contractor is certified by the manufacturer to install the product. Ask to see the contractor’s training and certification certificate from the manufacturer. Call the manufacturer to determine if it is valid and the contractor is still in good standing.
Professional Omaha home improvement contractors will have no problem providing this proof, and will usually present their certification credentials before being asked.
6. Does the company provide sufficient details for the project being performed?
The contractor should be able to clearly explain how they plan to perform the work and what materials will be used.
Compliance with local ordinances – Question the contractor about what is required. Contact the local building department for verification. Question if the permit is included in the cost and who is responsible for obtaining the permit.
Product Selection – Make sure the proposal includes a specific reference to the product and color you have chosen. Your proposal will be your proof of purchase in later years.
Manufacturer Warranty Specifications – If the project is to be warranted by a manufacturer, confirm that the agreement states that the work will conform to the manufacturer specifications.
Clean-Up – Insist on daily clean-up to help minimize safety issues or exposure.
Payment Terms – Schedule, terms and method of payment should be clearly detailed in the agreement. Establish an agreement regarding a retainer if a certain portion of work is left incomplete or there is a “punch list.”
Preliminary Inspection – Plan to meet with the job foreman who will be responsible for your satisfaction. Make sure he fully understands the specifications and promises made by his company. Establish the condition of the property before the work starts in the event there is property damage during construction.
Certified Siding Professionals complies with all of the above as a professional Omaha siding, window, and roofing contractor.
GET A FREE ESTIMATE!
Learn more about your home’s siding, roofing and windows on our website. Then call Certified Siding Professionals at (402) 680-7946 for a FREE in-home evaluation and estimate.
