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Published January 5, 2022
Tips for Working with Maryland Home Service Professionals - LiveMARYLAND
When hiring a Maryland home service professional, whether a plumber, painter, electrician, contractor, or any other service provider to perform work in your home or on your property, there are some important steps to take to protect yourself, your home, and your finances:
CONSIDER EXPERIENCE. Selecting a contractor with direct experience in the type of project you have in mind will make all of the difference in a successful project.
PAY ATTENTION TO COMMUNICATION. While it’s understandable that a busy professional might not answer their phone during the day, or return phone calls immediately, the time and effort the contractor takes in communicating with you may show their attention to details and desire to please.
CHECK THEIR LICENSE. The Maryland Home Improvement Commission licenses home improvement contractors in the state and also has information about whether a license is required.
ASK FOR REFERENCES. Don't be shy about asking for references from satisfied customers or other professionals in related building trades. But don’t stop there - be sure to contact the references and ask questions. Were they satisfied with the contractor's services? Were there any problems? Was the service completed in a timely manner? How did the contractor handle communication and complaints?
GET MULTIPLE WRITTEN BIDS OR QUOTES. Be sure to talk to at least two contractors, asking a lot of questions. Ask about any additional fees, what happens if a material becomes unavailable, or if there are price changes to a material after you’ve signed your contract.
CHECK FOR COMPLAINTS. Call the Maryland DLLR at 410-230-6309 or 1-888-218-5925 and ask if complaints have been filed against a contractor and whether they have been resolved or are still open.
VERIFY INSURANCE. Get a copy of the contractor’s current liability insurance certificate.
SEE THE PERMITS. If a building permit is needed, ask to see it before work starts.
From time to time, we may recommend home service professionals, based on our own experiences and word of mouth reviews offered to us from our clients. These recommendations are just that - recommendations only. No representation or warranty is made for service providers that we recommend.
The vendors we recommend are independent contractors, not affiliated businesses. The McIntyre Team of Keller Williams Integrity recommends local service providers, not as an endorsement or guarantee of quality, but as a convenient point of reference.
