Red Flags When Hiring a 5Pavement Contractor

Red Flags When Hiring a 5Pavement Contractor

Getting ready to replace your old driveway with paving stones? Looking to upgrade your pool deck or walkways? Adding paving stones is a great way to beautify your Southern California property while increasing its value. With so many contractors in the Los Angeles area, it s important to do some research to find the right one for your project. Deciding on a paving contractor can be an intense process. It s your money and time on the line so it s important to find a company that you can trust and will exceed your expectations. A lot of contractors will be sincere and want to help you with your next project. They listen to you, answer your questions, come up with design concepts and bring your vision to life. But, as with any industry, there are some bad contractors out there, and it s critical that you know what to look for when hiring a paving contractor for your new driveway, patio, or walkway. 5 Red Flags When Hiring A Paving Contractor 2

Red flags when hiring a paving contractor can be hard to see, especially if this is your first big home renovation project. It may be intimidating to quiz an expert on something that s new to you, but vetting companies doesn t have to be stressful. It s about knowing what to look for and asking the right questions. To avoid ending up with the wrong company, here are five red flags to look for when hiring a paving contractor for your Southern California home: We have a special deal from the manufacturers because they produced too much of this one product. Another customer just canceled, and if you act fast, I can sell you their pavers for a special price. 1. High-Pressure Sales Tactics Consider it a red flag if a paving contractor attempts to gain business by engaging in high-pressure sales tactics. Avoid contractors who encourage you to sign a contract on the spot or tell you that the offer is only good for a limited time. Most of the time, if you called them tomorrow, they would give you the same deal. Also, beware if a salesperson says any of the following: In instances such as these, the salesperson is more concerned about what s going in his pockets than in your paving project. This is a huge red flag to be aware of, and you should never sign a contract on the spot if you re not ready to make that commitment. A reputable paving contractor understands that you need time to consider all of the options available and that you may want quotes from other companies. Let the contractor know that you ll look over their proposal, and you ll get back to them when you re ready. 5 Red Flags When Hiring A Paving Contractor 3

2. They Can t Provide an Accurate Estimate Watch out for a salesperson who can t give you a detailed estimate of the project and the steps that will be involved. You should never sign a contract for a paving project without an accurate estimate. Also, be wary of companies who give you one estimate to start out with and then change it when it comes time to sign the contract. The only exception is if there s a valid, previously discussed reason for the change. Yeah, we don t really need to do a formal proposal. If you want us to start your driveway, just sign here. 3. Sketchy Payment Arrangement A reputable paving contractor will never ask you to pay for a project up-front, in cash only. A sketchy paving contractor may offer you the deal of a lifetime if you pay for the entire project up front (in cash). What assurance do you have that the job will be completed (or started to begin with)? If they want paid in cash, it could be a good sign they re cheating on taxes, cheating on insurances, and will cheat YOU. A reputable paving contractor should have no problems providing you with an accurate estimate for your scope of work, and they ll provide it to you in writing. I could give you a big break on the price if you pay in cash. Make sure the company you re working with takes checks or credit cards. This provides you with a paper trail and allows you to dispute with a bank or credit card company if something goes wrong. I m going to need you to put down 50% before we can get started Additionally, if they ask you for a large deposit to start the project, walk away. A contractor can only get a $1,000 deposit or 10 percent of the job whichever is less. 5 Red Flags When Hiring A Paving Contractor 4

4. They Have an Exclusive Deal with One Manufacturer 5. A Salesperson Wants to Purchase Your Driveway Sometimes, you ll encounter a company that says, We are an exclusive distributor for XYZ manufacturer and are the only company that can get this color or style. Some contractors and salespeople claim that they will purchase your old driveway materials from you because they can sell it to a recycler. The truth is, recyclers charge contractors a very high fee to dump broken concrete or asphalt at the recycling plant. Most of the time, this is false. A salesperson uses this tactic to get you to sign a contract with them, especially if you already have your heart set on a certain color or style of paver. Before signing the contract, check with other paving stone companies in the area and see if they re able to get the pavers you re interested in. If they can, walk away from the company you were talking to. If they re not honest with you upfront, it will only get worse as the project goes on. We can actually buy your old driveway from you and sell the materials to a recycling facility. This is a sales gimmick to get you to think you re getting a good deal. In reality, you ll likely end up paying more for the project even though they ll reassure you that you re getting a discount. 5 Red Flags When Hiring A Paving Contractor 5

Other Things to be Aware Of When you re meeting with paving contractors, trust your gut. If something doesn t feel right or you don t think they re being honest with you, it s okay to walk away and not sign a contract. Other red flags to be aware of when talking to paving contractors include: No solid work schedule in place No physical business location and only uses a postal box Uses subcontractors to do most, if not all of their work Contractor is difficult to communicate with Unable to find the company online or there s no contact information No certifications and licenses in the company s name They don t carry workers compensation in their company s name There are many reputable paving contractors in Southern California. While it may take time to find the right one for your project, it s always worth it. Never feel as though you have to settle for a contractor that you don t trust just because they re going to give you the best deal. An experienced paving contractor will never scam you out of money and will always work to stay within your budget. 5 Red Flags When Hiring A Paving Contractor 6

Questions To Ask When Hiring A Paving Contractor If you re like most people looking to hire a paving contractor, you know very little about the paving process, which is completely understandable. However, this often makes it difficult to know what to ask of a company when you re talking to companies. By asking the following questions, you ll learn a great deal about the contractors you re talking to, allowing you to weed out the ones who aren t a good fit for your project. How Long Have You Been in Business? This isn t to discredit newer businesses who offer highquality services. If a business has been around for awhile, you ll have more peace of mind knowing they ll be around to see your project through, and have a warranty to stand on years down the line. For many people, it s important to build a strong relationship with a contractor over time so that you can use them for future projects. It s also worth noting that just because a company has been around for many years, it doesn t necessarily mean they do great work. Always look at a company s portfolio to get an idea of past projects, and don t be afraid to ask for multiple references. What s Included in the Scope of Work? Some scope of work documents can be confusing, especially if you re gathering bids from multiple companies. Always make sure you know exactly what s included in your project and that this information is clearly laid out in your contract. If you re not sure about a line item, ask for clarification. A good contractor will have no problems answering your questions about a scope of work document or providing you with more information about quantities and quality of products they will be using. Will My Project Present Any Unique Challenges? An experienced paving contractor has completed thousands of projects, and they ve worked on a wide variety of properties. If you re worried about something (and even if you re not), don t be afraid to ask your contractor if they anticipate any unique challenges with your project. It may require that they do an additional walkthrough of your property, but if you don t ask about it, you might pay for it later in additional costs. Are There Any Additional or Hidden Fees That Will Come Up Later? When you re given a quote, you hope that your paving contractor is being upfront with you about all of the costs involved in the project. Unfortunately, it s not always the case. 5 Red Flags When Hiring A Paving Contractor 7

Before you sign a contract, ask if there are any additional fees that may come up later. If so, have them included in your contract at the beginning. The last thing you want is to be surprised when you get the final bill. There are some additional charges that are legitimate and cannot be anticipated in every circumstance. A reputable company will be willing to discuss their likelihood and potential costs if a rare circumstance arises. What are Some Projects You ve Done in this Area? Ask for a list of projects that the contractor has completed in your area, and drive to see these projects first hand. You can also go to their website to see a portfolio of completed projects. Do You Have Any References I Can Call? Paving contractors can say they re good at anything, but references are far more likely to be honest with you. Word of mouth is a huge selling point for contractors to get repeat business, and reputable companies are more than happy to give you a list of satisfied customers. Of course, references almost always have positive things to say since they re hand-picked. But if they have a long list of happy clients, it ll make you more confident in your decision when hiring a paving contractor. Are You Accredited With the Better Business Bureau (BBB)? Using paving contractors accredited with the BBB adds a level of accountability on their end and helps ensure they re a good company to work with. If a contractor beats around the bush with this question or doesn t want to give you an answer, consider it a red flag. If they are accredited, you can visit the Better Business Bureau website and see if any complaints have been filed against the company. A company with a bunch of complaints should raise some concerns in your mind. 5 Red Flags When Hiring A Paving Contractor 8

Conclusion: Choosing The Right Paving Contractor It s important to find a reputable paving contractor for your needs, but it s also important that you find one that you trust. Installing a new paving stone driveway, patio, pool deck or other outdoor space is a big investment, and it s critical that you feel good about the company you work with. When you re looking for paving contractors in Southern California, ask family, friends or neighbors for recommendations. Happy customers are always willing to tell you who they worked with. As you re doing your research, remember this: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. At Pacific Pavingstone, we ve completed tens of thousands of paving stone driveways, patios and pool decks. All of our in-house crews go through training and certification to ensure their work meets the highest standards of our customers every single time. We know that every project is unique, which is why we take the time to meet with you, discuss your needs and answer all of your questions. We ll provide you with references and show you pictures of completed projects all to reassure you that we re the best company for your project. Also, take some time to do research online. Look through company websites, and read online reviews to see what others in your area are saying. Check out their portfolio, and read their blog to see what kind of helpful information they re sharing. Planning, patience, and doing your research will help you find the right paving contractor for your project. Whether you re looking to upgrade your driveway or install a new patio with paving stones, we d love to help you with your next project. Check out our online gallery, and contact us today to learn more about how Pacific Pavingstone can help you transform your Southern California property. 5 Red Flags When Hiring A Paving Contractor 9