I’ve worked with many contractors before. I liked them well enough, but didn’t love them. Currently, I’m working with five contractors in my other vacant home. Three of them are doing a complete bathroom remodel, the fourth is painting my entire house, and the fifth is doing a bunch of odd jobs like tiling, electrical, plumbing, and attic insulation.

Besides the quality of work, what separates great contractors from so-so contractors is attitude. The difference between like and love is referrals.

Surrounded by contractors – who will I refer?

Paint contractor – I told him I wanted the entire house painted except for the ceilings. He gave me a flat-rate quote, including paint. He didn’t have a checklist and he didn’t ask me any questions, except for how many colors I wanted. I told him he had two weeks to get the job done because I had bathroom contractors lined up for the following week and hardwood floor installation after that. (more…)