Carrying Out Construction Work

Posted on: 19 March 2018

Do you want to hire a property maintenance contractor for your new rental property? Read on and discover some of the things you should never do when hiring such a contractor.

Don't Fail to Verify References/Credentials

Make sure that you ascertain the validity of the credentials and references which the contractor has given to you. For example, call the references and find out whether they were satisfied with the quality of the maintenance work that was done by that individual or company. Verifying those references and credentials will enable you to exclude contractors with complaints about their professionalism.

Don't Pay in Cash

It is also unwise for you to pay in cash for the services of the property maintenance contractor. This is because you may have no proof that you made the payment in case a dispute arises later. Channel all payments through the bank so that there is an irrefutable record of all the transactions that you have conducted regarding the maintenance work.

Don't Accept Verbal Contracts

Avoid hiring a property maintenance service provider if no detailed contract or bid has been prepared. Written contracts provide details about the scope of the work and the duration within which that work should be done. It is hard to hold someone to account in case he or she breaches a verbal agreement.

Don't Succumb to Pressure

Take your time when you are selecting the service provider to maintain that property. Resist any attempt to make you sign a contract before you are ready. For example, turn down any contractor who offers you a special discount in case you hire him or her that very day when he or she expresses interest in providing property maintenance services. Such pressure can make you disregard the selection process that you had laid out when you called for bids. Mistakes, such as hiring an inexperienced contractor, can result if you rush into making a decision.

Don't Pay in Personal Names

Make sure that all payments that you make are in the name of the business owned by the property maintenance contractor. It may be hard for you to prove that any payment that you made to the personal account of the contractor was for the maintenance work on your property. Avoid such complications by insisting on using company bank accounts.

You are likely to be satisfied with the services offered if you avoid the pitfalls that have been discussed in this article. Hire a property management company in case you find it tedious to select a contractor each time some property maintenance work needs to be done.