How to Find a Good Serviceperson
My mother asked a neighbor to recommend a plumber. She did. The plumber came
in, made a mess, and absconded with about $500 of my parents' money. Now, the
police are looking for him. Turns out, my mother's neighbor recommended her
young secretary's latest boyfriend, who did not even have a plumber's license.
There is no magical way of finding reliable, talented, and honest people. But, you can certainly take steps to increase the likelihood of that and to protect yourself and your condo association from serious problems.
Whether you're looking for a cleaning person, a landscaping company, or a plumber, personal recommendations are the way to start. Ask someone you know well to recommend someone that they have used before. But, don't just get a name. Ask what they liked about the person and his or her work.
In addition to recommendations, pay attention to the service trucks parked in front of nearby condos. If you often see service trucks belonging to one company, it could mean the company:
If you still have not found a serviceperson, look in the phone book, magazines, and newspapers. Often, an ad will provide a lot of useful information--whether s/he's low-cost, long-established, capable of handling emergencies, and so on. If a contractor has won an award, it will often be cited in the ad.
Once you have the name of a few contractors, you will want to verify their worthiness. To do so, look them up on the Better Business Bureau website. Also, visit your state's Consumer Affairs department. For example, the website for the Massachusetts Consumer's Affairs Department includes links for verifying a license and checking a home improvement contractor's record.
Now that you have found a few good candidates, you will want to call them and discuss availability and rates. Some good servicepeople, such as cleaning people, may not be available when you want them, while others, such as plumbers, may not offer true 24-hour emergency service. Try to find servicepeople who meet most, if not all, of your requirements. The best solution for smaller condo associations may be to find a well-established smaller company. Companies of that type have the staff to provide some flexibility, but also can offer personalized service, i.e., the same serviceperson will show up each time you call.
The last step in selecting a contractor is to get references. Get at least three. When you call the reference, ask about the kind of work that was done, the quality of the workmanship, and whether the serviceperson showed up when expected. You'll also want to know if the person was friendly, seemed trustworthy, and worked efficiently. Also, ask the reference if the final price seemed fair. In some cases, such as with carpenters, painters, and landscapers, you should ask if you can see examples of the their work.
Lastly, before the serviceperson comes to your premises, inform the company that you will want to see, as appropriate, the necessary licenses and an insurance certificate. Also, especially when working with individuals, let them know the policy of your condo association with regard to payment. Some smaller contractors want to be paid right away. If you cannot do that, it's best to warn them up front.
Finding a good serviceperson can be as easy as getting a recommendation from someone you know and trust or it can require quite a bit of research. But, if you find the right one, you've solved a problem for as long as that serviceperson is in business.
There is no magical way of finding reliable, talented, and honest people. But, you can certainly take steps to increase the likelihood of that and to protect yourself and your condo association from serious problems.
Whether you're looking for a cleaning person, a landscaping company, or a plumber, personal recommendations are the way to start. Ask someone you know well to recommend someone that they have used before. But, don't just get a name. Ask what they liked about the person and his or her work.
In addition to recommendations, pay attention to the service trucks parked in front of nearby condos. If you often see service trucks belonging to one company, it could mean the company:
- Has established a good reputation in your area
- Is used to working in condo environments
- Is familiar with local rules and customs regarding parking, trash disposal, and noise
- Has some knowledge of local historical and construction issues that they may come upon while working for you
If you still have not found a serviceperson, look in the phone book, magazines, and newspapers. Often, an ad will provide a lot of useful information--whether s/he's low-cost, long-established, capable of handling emergencies, and so on. If a contractor has won an award, it will often be cited in the ad.
Once you have the name of a few contractors, you will want to verify their worthiness. To do so, look them up on the Better Business Bureau website. Also, visit your state's Consumer Affairs department. For example, the website for the Massachusetts Consumer's Affairs Department includes links for verifying a license and checking a home improvement contractor's record.
Now that you have found a few good candidates, you will want to call them and discuss availability and rates. Some good servicepeople, such as cleaning people, may not be available when you want them, while others, such as plumbers, may not offer true 24-hour emergency service. Try to find servicepeople who meet most, if not all, of your requirements. The best solution for smaller condo associations may be to find a well-established smaller company. Companies of that type have the staff to provide some flexibility, but also can offer personalized service, i.e., the same serviceperson will show up each time you call.
The last step in selecting a contractor is to get references. Get at least three. When you call the reference, ask about the kind of work that was done, the quality of the workmanship, and whether the serviceperson showed up when expected. You'll also want to know if the person was friendly, seemed trustworthy, and worked efficiently. Also, ask the reference if the final price seemed fair. In some cases, such as with carpenters, painters, and landscapers, you should ask if you can see examples of the their work.
Lastly, before the serviceperson comes to your premises, inform the company that you will want to see, as appropriate, the necessary licenses and an insurance certificate. Also, especially when working with individuals, let them know the policy of your condo association with regard to payment. Some smaller contractors want to be paid right away. If you cannot do that, it's best to warn them up front.
Finding a good serviceperson can be as easy as getting a recommendation from someone you know and trust or it can require quite a bit of research. But, if you find the right one, you've solved a problem for as long as that serviceperson is in business.