Top Questions to ask your Pressure Washing Contractor
Most licensed contractors are competent, honest, hardworking and financially responsible. However, home improvements, such as Pressure Cleaning, are a top source of consumer complaints nationwide. By asking these questions you will greatly reduce the chances of having a bad experience.
Are you licensed?
It is unlawful to engage in a business transaction (i.e. rendering payment for a service) with an unlicensed individual(s). Individuals who claim to have a business must possess a current business license. There are many in other industries such as landscaping and construction that operate a business without a license. Some will tell you that a business license is NOT required to pressure wash a house. This statement is FALSE. Each county has specific guidelines under which an individual can operate a business. Such guidelines are intended to safeguard property owners from unscrupulous individual practices. Be sure to ask your potential pressure washing company to produce a copy of their business license and then check with the county to see if they are in good standing.
Are you insured?
Insurability is critical for all businesses. It is important that you choose a pressure washing company that has adequate coverage before you allow them on your property. Most property owners are not aware of the risks when hiring a subcontractor until it is too late. Our insurance company will provide any property owner with proof of insurability upon request.
What are the risks? If something goes wrong you have three choices, (1) to pay for the damages and repairs out of your own pocket. (2) To go after the contractor for the costs, this means suing him. Which of course is the where the real problem starts. If a contractor can’t afford to carry insurance, what are the chances that he has anything to sue him for? You can get a nice judgment of $50,000 against him, but how do you collect it from a guy that does everything illegally anyhow and doesn’t have anything of value? (3) You will have to ask your homeowners policy to cover it. There is no guarantee of course that they will cover the loss. Insurance companies do their best to protect themselves by having verbiage in their contract with you that might require you to only hire licensed contractors and prove the work has been properly permitted. Contractors without insurance usually don’t follow many of the other rules that insurance companies usually require either.
You should ask them to produce documents detailing:
- General Liability Insurance must include added coverage for “CARE, CUSTODY and CONTROL”. General liability insurance coverage is limited to damages unrelated to what is being worked on such as damages to vegetation from chemical overspray. Care, Custody and Control provides coverage for any damages specific to what is being worked on such as furring wood as a result of improper cleaning techniques.
- Workers Compensation Insurance protects the property owner from paying out for any injuries sustained while performing the contracted work. Uneven landscape, tree roots and other obstacles on a property present challenges when pressure washing.
Bottom line – It is always safer to deal with a fully insured contractor.
Ask the company if they have a website, which displays their company information and services.
A website is a non-intrusive medium where potential property owners can contact you, view testimonials and observe the type of work performed. Most individuals in the pressure washing industry will not commit any investment to a website. Our professionally designed website offers before and after pictures of the work we have performed. On our website, we provide our customers with a contact form as another means of reaching us. Our on-line Testimonials offer a glimpse of what our satisfied customers say about our work. Of course, we are more than happy to provide references upon request.
Is your work Guaranteed?
This is one of the most forgotten questions for customers. You wouldn’t buy a car without a warranty would you? Ask about the warranty and ask if it is in writing. Never accept a verbal warranty of “If something breaks, I’ll fix it.” A verbal warranty will be worth the paper it is printed on. Always insist on a warranty in writing. The warranty should clearly spell out what is covered and what is not.
What are the risks? It’s pretty simple; with nothing in writing you have no warranty. The moment the contractor cashes your final payment you have nothing to protect you from poor workmanship or an innocent defect.
Do You Provide References In Writing?
A good Pressure Washing contractor will be happy to provide you with dozens of written references. One of the best ways to gage a company’s ability is by talking to their past customers. Ask them how well the company met their promises, did they deliver on time, and most importantly would you hire them again or recommend them to others? Ask them what they like the most about working with them and what they could have improved upon.
What are the risks? Basically you are entering blindly into a relationship with someone on nothing but blind trust and hope. Most people operate in a pattern of repetition. Hopefully you got lucky and the person you hired will be one of the contractors who can do competent work.
Will You Provide Me With Written Lien Waivers?
Your Pressure Washing contractor should have no problem providing you with a written lien waiver at the end of the job. This is a legal document which say’s you have paid the contractor in full for the services rendered by the contract and the contractor waives his right to place a mechanics lien on your property. A good general contractor will also provide you with lien releases from any sub-contractors that do work on your project. This protects you in case the contractor doesn’t pay his sub-contractors after you have paid him in full. Without a lien release from the sub-contractors you could be liable for paying them. This amounts to you paying them twice!
What are the risks? You could end up paying for the work twice. A general contractor can sub-contract work to anyone they choose and not pay them for that work and that sub-contractor can hold you responsible for paying them, no matter if you paid the general contractor already or not.
Who Will Be In Charge Of The Job Once It Starts?
Make sure the Pressure Cleaning contractor himself or one of the high-level foreman/lead cleaners is on the job daily whenever work is being performed – especially when sub-contractors are being used. The responsible party must be intimately familiar with all aspects of your project. Remember, if you won’t be available during the cleaning, you will be leaving your home or business in the hands of the contractor. You must feel comfortable. You can’t be worried about what is going on when you are not home.
What are the risks? The risks are many and varied, basically you are hiring the Power Washing contractor who you have met and has established a level of trust with you. However, many contractors are nothing but salesmen, acquiring the job and selling it to someone else to complete. Will it be someone who you have never met and have no control over choosing to do the work? Even if the contractor keeps the work in house, who is going to show up at your home? Will it be the contractor or his foreman with years of experience, or will it be unskilled and unsupervised workers?
What Professional Organizations Are You A Member Of?
Well established Pressure Cleaning companies are affiliated with professional organizations such as the UAMCC (United Association of Mobile Contract Cleaners) or the PWNA (Power Washers of North America). In all cases, these organizations only attract conscientious contractors interested in bettering the industry and in weeding out unprofessional contractors. In order to become a member, the contractor’s background and references are thoroughly investigated. While a new contractor may not be a member of any professional organizations, it is highly unlikely an established contractor would not be a member of at least one, unless there is a reason that he cannot join. Fox ProWash is a member of the UAMCC.
What are the risks? While the risks may be minor, there are contractors that just don’t belong to any professional organizations, they are the rare exception and the vast majority of substantial companies do belong, because they understand the benefits of continuing education and peer review.
Ask Questions About How They Work
I can’t stress how important this information can be to you. Ask questions such as how do they perform their work, what time do they start, how will they protect your landscape, how will the trash and debris be handled, do they work straight through a project? The answers to these questions will give you a clear picture of what type of contractor you are dealing with.
What are the risks? Maybe none or maybe you are in for a big surprise once work starts and you find yourself in a mess. Do yourself a favor and ask some specific questions so you can make an informed decision before you find it too late.
