Frequently Asked Questions

Feared Question #6

“Are references included with your proposal? How do you put together your reference list?”

You would think this question is a no-brainer, but you would be surprised. On second thought, it might be wise to not ask this question right away. Wait until you actually receive the proposal. Does it include references with it? Some companies will even give you references before you get the proposal. Thats a good sign. You might want to find out how a company compiles their references. Who gets on the list, and who doesn’t. Did the company get permission to use the names on the reference list? How old or how new are the names? It is probably best that you have a variety of projects on which to inquire. Both newer and older projects are also desirable. You want to know how the contractor did last month on a project. You also want to know how the job is holding up that was completed a year or two ago. The best advice is, take a few minutes and check references. Home improvement is a big investment and worth the time.

The Smoke and Mirror Tricks

This one is easy. Give a customer a list of your relatives, friends, or other predetermined names. The people will say great things and the customer won’t be the wiser. The best way to avoid this smoke and mirror trick is to ask questions about the project. If the reference seems hesitant or doesn’t know details about the work, be skeptical. Keep in mind, if red flags appear on other questions, you might want to look at this one closer.

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