Before you can go out to obtain estimates, begin by establishing what you want. Make sure you have a plan and some ideas to go along with that plan. Freelancers are able to provide more accurate estimates once a client has provided a description of what he wants.
Reach out to your networks in a bid to obtain references. The network can comprise of people in the same neighborhood as you who have had some work done in the past. In addition, you can also rely on your friends and colleagues for the same info.
Go through the list eliminating firms that do not have what you are looking for. As you go about the elimination process, make sure you remain with at least three firms to be interviewed. Interview each firm and request the rep to provide you with a bid.
The best firms are always those that are unavailable to begin work immediately. If you find a firm that is readily available, it could mean that something is wrong with its work. Therefore, allow a few weeks or days, for the firm to be able to finish up on its current projects.
Make inquiries on the work that will be done by the company employees, and the one to be done by the subs. If possible, you should ask for a list of employees from the firm so as to make sure that the freelancer actually has the work force required. It also helps guarantee that casual laborers will not be used.
It is important that clients distinguish between the various freelancers that are out there. Each freelancer will have chosen his own field of specialization. As such, you need to make certain that the one you want to hire has more than a few years experience in your type of project.
Clients should make sure they check for licenses, litigation history as well as complaints. Information on complaints can be obtained from the disciplinary boards. The better business bureau is also a good place to conduct this kind of search.
It will be important to also check on references. When requesting for references, ensure the supplier provides you a list of both past clients, and subcontractors, that he has used in the past. The subs can tell you whether this supplier pays them on time.
Online reviews are very important when it comes to making the final decision. There are many review websites that do not allow clients to post anonymously. You should make sure you visit such sites in order to gather information on what the customers have to say about their experiences with a firm.
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