| At some point, you may have a need for a | | | | arrive at your home for the estimate to not be |
| contractor that deals in home energy products. | | | | contractors at all! Some companies (especially the |
| For example you may need to buy a new air | | | | larger ones) tend to send salesmen with some |
| conditioner or perhaps repair your furnace. Or, | | | | knowledge of home energy repairs that may |
| you may need an HVAC (heating ventilation and | | | | know how to talk the talk - but wouldn't know |
| air conditioning) tune up. | | | | where to start when it comes down to the repair. |
| No matter the situation, thumbing around your | | | | These guys focus on one thing - closing the sale! |
| phone book will show that there are literally | | | | Be on the watch. |
| hundreds of decisons. Which one do you choose? | | | | From the listing you have compiled do a quick |
| The ones with the flashiest or most aired | | | | web search for the repair professional, and |
| commercials on the TV or radio? The first one in | | | | especially reviews. Check forums, the Better |
| the your local internet search results? The one | | | | Business Bureau, and fraud alert websites. You |
| with the biggest ad budget? | | | | can also contact the company and ask for |
| The best possible ad for these professionals, | | | | references. Most reputable ones have a customer |
| especially home energy professionals, is definitely | | | | base that will compliment their work. |
| previous clients. Ask your coworkers and | | | | If something doesn't feel right or is "out of |
| neighbors if they've had any experiences with | | | | whack", simply eliminate them from contention. |
| home energy contractors. Barring this, you can | | | | You can choose whether you want to search for |
| attempt to narrow your search by proximity to | | | | more estimates at this point. |
| your home or by specialty. So, if you have a | | | | If you have at least a couple estimates that you |
| need for a furnace tune up only, choose pros that | | | | are comfortable with in front of you, you can |
| focus in furnaces and HVAC work rather than | | | | name the "winner". It may not necessarily be the |
| those who perhaps be a "jack of all trades". | | | | lowest bidder. Select the contractor or company |
| Remember that ad size or company size has no | | | | you think gets the most about your home, your |
| effect at all on the service you can expect to | | | | goals, and the installation. In other words, the one |
| receive. In fact, just the opposite may be the | | | | that will do the best job. |
| case. A small operation or business of just one | | | | Call him/her up and prepare to have the work |
| contractor may be totally dedicated to keeping | | | | done. |
| you happy while a bigger shop with many more | | | | Unfortunately you may feel pressure to make a |
| employees may take less time to satisfy you - | | | | decision on the double. This is especially the case if |
| since they have multitudes of other customers! | | | | someone is leaning over you or begging you for a |
| Try to put together a listing of at least 3 or more | | | | decision right away. The best thing is to take your |
| contractor listings (I recommend at least 5). Call | | | | time and make the right decision for your needs. |
| each one and ask if they do the work you are | | | | You must be 100% comfortable with the decision |
| looking for, and if they do no charge in home | | | | - after all it is your home we're talking about. If |
| estimates. Almost all will say they do. Arrange a | | | | someone is putting you in an awkward situation, |
| time for them to send someone out and look at | | | | ask for the proposal in writing and require some |
| the situation. Require the estimate in writing, and | | | | time to make a decision. |
| have each contractor go over what they intend | | | | Choosing the right home energy contractor is a |
| to do, or how they intend to remedy the | | | | big decision - but it doesn't have to be horrible! |
| problem. | | | | Follow these tips and you'll find yourself more at |
| Be prepared for some of them to be pushy - and | | | | ease. |
| be prepared for many of the "contractors" that | | | | |