Attention Homeowners,
In light of the recent surge in housing demand, the market has witnessed an influx of numerous contractors. This phenomenon extends beyond the realm of siding and encompasses various sectors within the home improvement industry. Our primary objective is to offer guidance in selecting a reputable and trustworthy company. We recognize the significance of certain pivotal factors in this decision-making process.
- Years of Business Operation: The duration for which a business has been in operation serves as a vital indicator of its reliability and stability. (click here to check contractor licensing) or you see how long they have been in business by looking them up on (Better Business Bureau). Always ask the company when they come on site about how long they have been in business and cross reference their response with the links provided.
- Web presence does not mean legitimacy: Simply having a presence on the web doesn’t automatically mean a business is legitimate. In the digital realm, appearances can be deceiving. Achieving a high ranking on search engines like Google or Bing is no longer a purely organic process; many companies are now hiring marketing firms to manipulate their positions. Don’t be swayed solely by the presence of customer reviews, advertisements, or claims of being in business for 5-10 years. It’s essential to exercise caution and not assume that these factors guarantee the company’s honesty and integrity. Always do your research on a company you are about to hire.
- Multiple Domains/Landing Pages: If you notice a company appearing multiple times in Google search results under different domains or landing pages, it’s likely they are either scammers or lead generation entities. For instance, if you search for “Ferndale Siding company” and see both ABC.com and XYZ.com in the top 5 results, but clicking on both leads to the same company, this indicates a scam. In marketing terms, these are referred to as ‘doorways.’ Scammers create these multiple pages across the web to push legitimate companies out of top search results. The internet serves as their playground for such deceptive practices
- Geographical Presence and Physical Office: The geographic location of the company’s office plays a pivotal role. A physical presence lends credibility, offering homeowners a tangible point of contact. It’s important to verify the existence of a physical office. Many businesses do not have an office or run their business out of a residential address or a post office. This usually has a PO box or a unit # in their address (click here for google maps to look a business location) Some companies are a little more sneaky and will acquire an address just to be able to show up on google. We call these types of companies lead generation companies. Many of these locations are not real locations and are just random warehouses/storage facilities. Doing a drive by and inspecting the listing location is an easy way to insure this business actually exists there.
- Online Credibility and Transparency (using Better Business Bureau): The authenticity and honesty of a company’s online presence, encompassing aspects such as reviews, experience, and referrals, are indicative of its commitment to transparency and customer satisfaction. BBB is a great place to see a company’s reputation. And it even reveals who the owner is which may allow you to see their age and history. If a company does not have an A+ on BBB and is not accredited that means, either they have only been in business for a few years or less, or the company has had outstanding complaints that were recently resolved or closed out.
- Referrals/Reviews: Unfortunately, we live in a world where people can be very dishonest. So its very important to not just trust reviews but ask for addresses, emails and phone numbers as references to see the company has actually done work. We recommend a minimum of 5-10 verified addressed to insure your project is protected. Some have even gone as far as to fabricating their reviews by asking family members, friends or marketing agencies to create fake reviews for them. Deciphering the difference between a real and fake review can be tricky but we suggest checking other sources such as guild quality, network,
- Company & owner’s Reputation and Trustworthiness: The reputation and credibility of the company’s owner are paramount. Establishing trust is crucial in ensuring a positive working relationship. We would recommend checking if the company is part of the Hardie Elite Program to ensure that they have been vetted and can provide good quality work. If a contractor is not Hardie Elite they do not carry the necessary experience to do the work.
- Employee Structure and Accountability: A crucial aspect to consider is whether the company employs in-house staff or relies on subcontractors. This determination is pivotal in understanding accountability and responsibility in case of any unforeseen issues. You can see this by looking to see if the company has a workers compensation account open. If a company does not have a workers comp account open they are subcontracting their work out 100%. (click here to check contractor workers comp) Some companies may even open a workers compensation account to create the illusion they are legitimate but bot report any employees.
- Local Identity vs. Corporate Impersonality: The distinction between a local business and a faceless corporate entity holds significant importance. Opting for a business with a local presence ensures a personal touch and a vested interest in the community. Make sure the company has a face to their business.
We are dedicated to assisting you in navigating through these factors, enabling you to make an informed decision when selecting a company for your home-related needs.
