Turner believes homeowners who select contractors based on price alone have the process reversed. He counsels homeowners who put more effort into contractor selection first, followed by cost considerations. Homeowners insistent on low price should give prospective bidders a detailed list to cover the scope of the job, including materials, details of work to be performed, and budget. If the homeowner doesn t volunteer those factors, the astute contractor should ask. Turner believes the ability to ask the right question in the absence of homeowner knowledge is a key skill of a professional tradesman or tradeswoman.
Most homeowners don t even know what to ask.
They have an understanding of what they want, but they need a contractor with the vision to see the job as the homeowner sees it, and has the know-how to ask the customer the right questions. The joy of a low price is short-lived compared to the joy of a job well done. If you pay a little more money for a good job and amortize that cost over time, it s nothing. If you get a poor quality job, you never get over the diminished value and heartache you suffer. There are steps homeowners can take in the bid process to keep costs in line.