Do your homework to get reputable pros for big jobs

TTim Carter

his column was inspired by something that recently happened to my sister.

She called me for advice because she needed a tree removed from her backyard and she didn't know any reliable treeremoval companies.

Perhaps you have been in a similar situation regarding a repair or other home project.

What are you to do when you need a pro to fix something for you? A few things to note: • The best contractors and subcontractors usually don't advertise, nor do they belong to contractor networks such as HomeAdvisor and Angie's List.

They don't have to. They get booked out months in advance just from word-ofmouth promotion from their past satisfied customers.

• The best contractors typically purchase the best products and materials from local businesses, not giant national brands.

• You often will find the best products and materials at the traditional lumberyards that still exist in most larger cities and towns. You might also find some at the old-fashioned hardware stores in your neighborhood.

• The best contractors use the best products because they don't want to have to come back and fix something.

Weeks and months before you need the work done, start looking for a contractor. Why? The trustworthy contractors have a backlog of work.

You can usually get a list of such contractors by talking with the general manager of the local lumberyard or the owners or managers of the local hardware store.

Ask them bluntly, "Please be kind enough to share with me the names of the three best contractors that come in here that you would have work on your home."

The bottom line is that there is no easy button. You need to do the hard work ahead of time if you want to get the best workers in exchange for your hard-earned money.