How to hire a contractor
without getting burned.

Most bad home-service experiences aren't bad luck — they're predictable, and they show up in the first conversation if you know what to listen for. The same root cause turns up across trades: vague pricing and zero accountability. Here are the eight questions that catch it early. Use them on any contractor — including us.

The eight questions

1. Is the price flat-rate, or will it change on the job?

A real pro can quote a defined job from a price book before they start. "We'll see when we get there" is how a $200 visit becomes $800. Get the number — and the conditions that would change it — in writing first.

2. Can they prove the work was done right?

Before/after photos, a tested-and-walked handoff, a written summary — proof should be standard, not a favor you have to ask for. If nobody can show you the result, you're trusting a story.

3. Are they actually local?

A local operator has a reason to care about your neighbor's opinion. Ask where they're based and how far they travel. A tight service area usually means faster response and more accountability, not less.

4. Who actually shows up?

The person who quotes the job and the person who does it should be connected. Endless subcontracting blurs who's responsible when something goes wrong six months later.

5. Are they insured for this trade?

Ladders, pressure, springs under tension — home-service work has real risk. Confirm they carry liability coverage for the specific work, and don't be shy about asking for proof.

6. Where do their reviews live — and are they verifiable?

Look for reviews on independent, public profiles tied to the actual business name, not a wall of unattributed quotes on their own site. Read the 3- and 4-star ones; that's where the truth is.

7. What happens if something's wrong afterward?

Ask directly: if a spring fails or a streak comes back, what's the policy? A pro has an answer ready because they've been asked before and they stand behind the work.

8. Do they push you to decide on the spot?

Urgency is a sales tactic. A fair quote is still fair tomorrow. Real pros are busy enough that they don't need to corner you in your driveway.

How Elevation answers them

We wrote this guide partly to hold ourselves to it. Both Elevation divisions quote flat-rate from a published book, finish with photo proof or a tested handoff, are fully insured for the work they do, work a tight Grand Rapids service area, and keep the same crew on your job start to finish. Reviews for each trade live on that division's own public profile — go read them. You can see the full reasoning on our Why Elevation page.

When you're ready to put a job in front of a crew that passes its own test: Elevation Garage Door for springs, openers, panels, and installs, or Elevation Exteriors for soft washing, roofs, gutters, drives, and decks. Not sure which? Ask the house. And if you're wondering when each job should actually happen, our West Michigan seasonal maintenance calendar lays out the timing.