Your driveway may be in need of a repair from the winter months, or it just might be time to replace it. Either way, you want to ensure you are hiring a reputable paving company to assist you. Read on to learn more about how to hire a paving company.
Have an Idea in Mind
As with hiring any company for your home improvement needs, you should always begin with planning your project. In other words, you should have somewhat of an idea before you begin your search. This can be as simple as choosing what material you want to lay, or even any redesigning, such as reshaping.
Don’t panic if you have no idea, that’s what the pros are there for. Knowing what you need to be done, in a broad scope, will help you eliminate companies that won’t be able to provide you with that job, making you one step closer to hiring the right company.
Research
With an idea in mind, begin researching companies online. You’ll want to pay special attention to their online presence. Their HomeStars profile is a great place to start. Their profile will include reviews and ratings from past customers, photos of work previously completed, and how well they manage their online reputation. Use the following tools to help you hire a paving company.
Reviews and Ratings
Read through various companies’ reviews and ratings online. Do not jump for the company that only has perfect reviews, and do not go with the company who only has poor reviews, but cheaper job prices. You want to look for a company that has a mix of reviews, both good, bad, and neutral.
Online Presence
A good mix of reviews only means that the company is human. We know that mistakes are made and that’s why it’s important to pay attention to how well the company has responded to their customers’ negative experience. There’s a slight chance that a hiccup could occur with your project, and you do not want a company that is going to react poorly or walk off the job. Multiple good reviews is a great sign, but take note of responses to negative reviews, as well. This can be a tell-tale sign of their customer service.
Request Quotes
You should have an idea of the levels of experience across some companies by now. Once you have a good feeling about a couple of those companies, request quotes. It’s important to request multiple quotes to make sure you are not being overcharged, or even undercharged for your job. Overcharging is unnecessary and undercharging can imply poor quality of work.
With a paving company, you want to discuss the cost, schedule, and materials prior to signing any contract. Try to have the company come to your home for a quote. This will give them the best opportunity to price your project properly. Also, discuss a timeline for the project. If you need to have it done in a certain timeline, make sure that they understand that. You don’t want to get stuck with a company paving your driveway for weeks to come. And lastly, be sure to ask what materials they use on their worksite. You want to stay away from recycled asphalt for example, and a company that uses “less” materials, spreading them thin. Paving that lasts is constructed from solid materials and the proper amount to ensure thickness and durability over time.
Hire
Based on the conversations and quotes you received, you should have a good idea of who you feel comfortable giving your job to. As with any home improvement project, you must work out a written contract together with the company. Not one party should dictate the terms of the project themselves, you are both in this together. Be sure that the contract includes all aspects of the project, including payments, scheduling and all materials. Remember to never pay upfront for a project of this size – it will hold the company accountable for sticking to a schedule.
There are so many companies that are willing to help you complete your project, and that’s why it’s difficult to choose the right one. If you follow these hiring steps, you should feel confident in the choice you make. Research some qualified pros today, request some quotes and hire a paving company today!
