Curious, do you ever ask for photos of their previous work or just go by references? Sometimes I feel like photos can be staged, but references aren’t always super reliable either...
I usually ask for both, but I’m with you—photos can be misleading and references are often cherry-picked. What’s helped me is asking for addresses of recent jobs and doing a quick drive-by if possible. Sometimes you can spot details in person that don’t show up in staged pics. Also, I’ll ask about problems they ran into on past projects and how they handled them. The way they answer tells me a lot.
Also, I’ll ask about problems they ran into on past projects and how they handled them.
I agree, seeing a job in person can tell you a lot more than any photo ever could. I’ve had contractors send me “portfolio” shots that looked great, but when I checked out the actual work, there were crooked tiles and uneven trim. Asking about how they handle mistakes is key too—if they get defensive or vague, that’s usually a red flag. One thing I’ll add: I like to ask for proof of insurance and licensing up front. It’s surprising how many folks skip that step, but it saves headaches down the road.
