Hiring a contractor

What actually works when hiring a contractor, from spotting a bid that is too good to be true to handling a walk off or a dispute over shoddy work.

• How do we know if a contractor's bid is too good to be true? If it's 30% below the others, it's too good to be true.
• What should we do if a contractor walks off a job halfway through? Document everything, then send a written demand.
• Is it worth paying a deposit upfront, and how much is normal? Yes, but keep it under 10%.
• How do people resolve disputes over shoddy work? Start with a written demand, then escalate.
• Should we hire the licensed, insured company or the cheaper independent guy? Hire the licensed, insured company.
• What do people wish they had put in writing before work started? Put the scope and the payment terms in writing.

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