Selecting an outdoor building contractor in the Kansas City market
Archadeck has been designing and building outdoor living spaces since 2001
Generalized or specialized contractor?
Should you look for a general contractor or a specialized contractor? General purpose contractors have a little bit of experience in many areas. Specialized contractors have a great depth of experience in a few very specific areas. Because of this, they become more familiar with the wide range of products available and the wide range of design options. They become more familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of different sizes, shapes, roofs, etc. But all of this stems from the fact that they’re specialized.
Is the contractor you’re considering everything they say they are?
Once you’ve found a contractor that you think might be the right one, your next job is to verify that in fact the contractor is who they say they are. There isn’t just one way that far exceeds the other ways of verifying a contractor. There are a variety. Here are some ways.
- Research with friends/neighbors and get references
- Research the contractor with professional organizations such as NARI. These organizations have standards and requirements
- Research the contractor with the BBB in the local area
- Research with online review sites such as Angie’s List
- If you want direct references, you should never hesitate to ask the contractor. An ethical contractor should be able to provide multiple.
- Verify the contractor through licensing authorities in your state and/or county
- Verify the contractor’s insurance. You can request a certificate of insurance but they could also get it through the licensing organization
Is the contractor right for you?
Now that you’ve checked out the contractor and you know they’re alright, how do you know if they’re right for you? Here are some things to check.
Design Elements – is the contractor comfortable presenting different features and
explaining them?
Process – Is the contractor comfortable describing their process?
Communication Style – Does the contractor have a communication style and method that
you are comfortable with?
Handling Questions – You should feel very comfortable asking questions about the contractor’s
background, experience, employees, etc. How do they handle these questions?
It all begins with a complimentary design consultation, so give us a call today at (913) 704-6240 to get started.
