Jim Winsett of the BBB. Q. This summer we have a few remodel projects planned. I find it difficult to find contractors and make decisions on who to choose. How may BBB help with this process?
A. Many consumers have the same issues; sometimes the more information you have at your fingertips, the longer it takes to weed through it all. Watch the news for just a few minutes and you’ll hear about some shady contractor, scam artist or business that didn’t deliver on its promises. When it’s time to hire or buy, you don’t want the same to happen to you.
Better Business Bureau exists to create an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers trust each other. When you have a purchasing decision to make, try our Request a Quote tool, (https://www.bbb.org/ask/request-a-quote), for one stop shopping from BBB Accredited businesses you can trust.
Project remodel research is hard. At first, it seemed like online research made everything easier. When you wanted to know about a doctor, plumber or auto repair shop, you looked at their website and other marketing material. If they had solid credentials and provided what you were looking for, you felt safe hiring them. Then, something happened to you or someone you know. A business seemed trustworthy, but it was all marketing.
Now it’s hard to separate the experts from the people who just put up a good front. Good reviews could be written by family members or people who were compensated for their positive words. Bad reviews might come from competitors trying to sling mud or someone who was never a client in the first place.