Past Work of a Contractor
 It's not always possible, but if you can,
one of the best ways to ensure you're getting a good
building contractor is to look at work they've done in the
past, or work they have in progress. The latter may, in
fact, tell you more about how the contractor runs a
job.
  Even if you don't know a lot about building
construction, samples of work can still tell you a lot
about how a contractor handles his or her jobs. The
appearance of a work in progress or even a completed home
job will really show off what the contractor can and
cannot do.
When looking at completed works, especially full
homes, here are some things to look for:
- Look for major imperfections in the outside appearance.
Are windows and doors level? Is the paint evenly applied?
Does the landscaping look professional? Even though the
contractor doesn't technically perform these duties, he or
she oversees the jobs. A good contractor won't settle for
less than perfection.
- Inside the home, make sure walls look clean and even.
If patches have been made in the drywall, are they visible?
Is the tile in bathrooms and the kitchen properly sealed or
does it have holes? Is every fixture properly affixed? Is
the carpet laid correctly?
- If you're in a home that's completely done and it has a
homeowner, ask that person questions. Are they happy with
the work?
A job in progress likely will tell you a lot, if you
know what you're looking at. You may not get to see too much,
depending on the stage of construction, but here are some
overall things to look for:
- Is the job site clean and well organized? Building
requirements in the project?
- Have measures been taken to protect the property during
construction?
- Are workers working (unless it's break time)?
- Are the subcontractors on the jobsite properly
supervised? Do they know their trades?
 
Even if you don't know a lot about construction, looking at
past jobs can tell you a lot about a contractor. Look for signs
of professionalism and perfectionism. A good contractor won't
accept cracked walls, poorly aligned cabinets, carpets with
slight gaps at the wall lines and a lot of other "little
things."
When it comes to building a whole house, adding on to one or
even remodeling a room, it's the little details that matter.
Your contractor should be an expert at the details.
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