As a homeowner, you might wonder why there can be significant differences in the price quoted by different contractors. Every deck contractor approaches their builds differently. To make it easier for you, here are some tips for understanding the estimates you receive from deck construction companies:
Materials Used
The biggest difference we see when comparing quotes comes down to the materials being used. Contractors use their choice of different materials, so there for is not the same selections or pricing.
This also brings having 2 or 3 quotes to compare to, is one leaving out that the others included or what does the quote fully entail.
What does their finish product look like?
Are all of the quotes similar? Or are there big differences? If there are big differences, it's important to find out why. Is one contractor using lower quality materials? Are they cutting corners on the project? It's important to get all of this information before making a final decision so you can be sure you're getting the best value for your money.
Job Skills & Knowledge
It's not uncommon for newer companies to charge less. Whatever the discount, if the job isn't done right, you could end up paying more in the long run fixing your contractor's mistakes. Remember that it is worth it to spend more money to get a contractor who knows what they are doing. A reliable contractor will answer your questions and can reassure you that the job will be done right.
Customer Service
This is about you. It is your project, your home and your family! Consider customer service when selecting a reliable contractor for your project. In fact, you should factor it in to the cost of your project. You should ask what type of communication you can expect. During construction projects, it’s important that your questions or concerns are addressed right away with honesty. Understand what's going on so you won't regret making costly mistakes because of poor communication with the contractor. Maintaining an open line of communication is key so that you feel involved in the project. This one of our strongest values is that we ensure to keep an open and frequent line of communication open.
Labor
The companies that you obtain quotes from, it is important to know who will be working in your home. Some companies use subcontractors. Others, like Decked Out Builders use in-house employees. This makes a big difference and can change your experience and outcome. Subcontractors are usually paid by the job and have no set schedule.. They might not have the same high standards or take pride in their work like employees do. You should also consider how many outstanding projects the contractor has when selecting a partner for labor in your deck project. The time it will take them to do your project depends on how many other projects they have going on at the same time. They might take longer to finish yours if they're working on multiple projects at once.
Product Knowledge
This is important because what one customer might use or what is best for their lifestyle may not be best for you. It is important to have knowledge on all the different products to offer and educate what is best for you and your family.There are a lot of different types of products on the market. It can be confusing trying to compare estimates from different companies, but an experienced contractor should know about all the different products and recommend what is best for your lifestyle based upon what is discussed.
Warranties
Any project is an investment. You want to make sure you are protected in case anything goes wrong. A contractor should warranty their work but also you want to have a manufacturer's warranty in case something goes wrong or is faulty. We do see time to time that a manufacturer warranty is denied because a certified installer wasn’t the one that did the work.
Reputation
Choosing a builder with an impeccable reputation means that you are choosing a builder that is proactive, responsive, and fair. We pride ourselves on our reputation in our community for delivering top-notch results and quality builds.