Why Longevity Matters When Selecting a Remodeler: Beyond First Impressions

Why is it so important to choose the right professional for your remodeling project? For one thing, you will you be spending a fairly significant amount of money to remodel or renovate your home. So you want to make sure you get the best value possible. But beyond that, chances are that you’ll be living with the results for a long time. It’s not enough to be satisfied when the project is complete. You want to be happy with the renovation for years to come.
 
Some home remodeling companies make a big deal out of customer satisfaction and how long they have been in business. Frankly, we’re one of those companies. Of course we’re going to show you testimonials from satisfied clients (and if a remodeling contractor can’t do that—run the other way!).  But why does it matter how long we’ve been in business? Sometimes it’s important to look beneath the surface—to go beyond your first impressions.
 
We’ve all purchased things that looked and worked great when they were new. But have you ever bought something (a car, a pair of shoes, a piece of furniture) that looked great and functioned flawlessly when you first brought it home—and then began to fall apart a few months later? No matter what kind of “deal” you got on that item, once it ceases to perform like it should (and sometimes how it looks is part of that equation) you realize that you didn’t get the value you were expecting.
 
The same thing can happen when choosing a home renovation contractor. It’s easy to be enthralled with the way your home looks when there’s a fresh coat of paint on the walls, the new fixtures sparkle and shine, and the floor tile glistens. What’s really important is how content you are six months—or six years—down the road. It’s hard to be happy with your home if gaps appear in your walls, the fixtures start to leak, and the grout is crumbling in your tile work.
 
That, of course, is one of the challenges of home renovation and remodeling work. Some problems aren’t immediately apparent. And some issues may not surface for a long time. Sometimes shoddy workmanship isn’t obvious right away. And some of it can be covered up by “cosmetics.” Eventually, poor craftsmanship will reveal itself, but it may be too late for you to get any relief (and do you really want the same people “fixing” what they did wrong the first time?).
 
That’s why it’s important to select a remodeler that has been around for a while. Not only will you be able to talk to his recent clients, you’ll be able to interview clients he’s worked for several years ago. If those clients are still happy (and perhaps have even asked the contractor to do additional work), you have probably found a winner! And if you do come across a problem (because mistakes do happen and there can be extenuating circumstances), you’ll want to be dealing with someone who is still going to be around years from now.