What Should I Look for When Hiring Madison Siding Contractors, Part 3

Welcome to the third, and final installment of this series on what to look for when hiring a Madison-area siding contractor.

In Part 1, we focused on inspections, estimates, product quality, reputation, warranties and financing options.

And in Part 2, we took a look at timelines, experience level, licenses, credentials, certifications, trainings — and the importance of hiring a contractor that’s fully insured.

Today, in Part 3 we’re covering:

• Using Google Business reviews as part of your research
• The importance of a commercial business location
• Making sure you ask for references
• Checking a siding contractor’s BBB rating

USING GOOGLE BUSINESS REVIEWS AS PART OF YOUR RESEARCH

Does the siding contractor you’re considering have a good rating? And what, exactly, is a good Google Business reviews rating?

In case you’re not familiar, a Google Business rating is a star-based system housed within a company’s Google Business listing when you search for them by name online.

Here’s what ours looks like for reference …

Making sure that a potential siding contractor actually has a Google Business listing, and also has a good amount of positive reviews is a simple, easy way to vet a contractor. If they have little or no reviews, or have an exceptionally low star rating, it might be a good idea to look elsewhere.

That said, a Google rating of 4/5 stars, or better for a construction company is very good, and a rating of 4.5/5 stars or better is stellar.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS LOCATION

Keeping with Google Business, it’s important to make sure your potential siding contractor has an actual physical commercial business address — AND MAKE SURE IT’S LOCAL.

The reason a local commercial address is so important is because some storm chasers and national brands like to portray themselves as “local,” in order to win your business. Sometimes they may establish a P.O. Box with a local address, which is not the same as a local commercial business address. The last thing a homeowner needs is to hire someone for a siding replacement, only to find that the contractor is nowhere to be found after the job is done.

MAKING SURE YOU ASK FOR REFERENCES

It may feel a little uncomfortable to ask for references, but they are a great way to gauge the satisfaction level of customers.

References can be a key component of the vetting process when choosing a siding contractor. Even a 5-minute conversation with a couple of a contractor’s clients can give you a real feel for their experience with them — from customer service, to communication, to quality of the work done. We encourage you to ask for at least three references.

Experienced siding installers understand you’re just doing your due-diligence when asking for references, so they shouldn’t mind honoring the request. That said, make sure the references you receive are recent!

CHECKING A SIDING CONTRACTOR’S BBB RATING

Does the contractor you’re considering have a good rating with the BBB?

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is another way of benchmarking the reputation of a siding contractor. Their rating system ranges from A+ to F, and is based on criteria like transparency, responsiveness and customer complaints. As per the Better Business Bureau’s website, “BBB ratings reflect how a business is likely to interact with customers. Ratings update automatically as new information is received.”

GET IN TOUCH

If you have questions about any of the topics we’ve discussed in this series, or would like a complimentary siding inspection, feel free to contact us any time. We’re always happy to help, any time of year!