When you evaluate contractors, what attributes are important?

Consider these questions:

Does a company with awards and high rankings through trade publications deliver more value?  Do these awards come from meeting their client’s needs and budget or designing for their own benefit and not always in the homeowner’s best interest? 

What is a national ranking?  Is it self serving in that all a company needs to do is submit to a trade publication?  How important is a ranking purely based on dollar volume? 

What is more credible, a “best of” competition driven by a media publication or website selling ads to encourage votes, or an award won after submitting a comprehensive entry package that is graded by a panel of independent judges?

Winning readers polls and being recognized by trade magazine may be great window dressing, but do they really mean anything to you?

Here are meaningful attributes:

Online reviews written by homeowners about their experience with the builder.

Being recognized in the community with awards for ethics and integrity.

Having a reputation for completing quality work on time and within budget.

As a strong advocate for truth in advertising and consumer support, I feel compelled to write this editorial about the local “Best of…” awards.  These competitions are driven by consumer votes and awards are given based on the number of votes received.  I’ve noticed that some companies are paying for advertising to generate votes while others are offering incentives like Visa gift cards in exchange for votes.  The entry guidelines do not regulate such things as multiple votes from the same source nor do they require documentable proof of claims as to why a firm deserves status as “best” in any industry or endeavor.

After receiving the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, I have to express my appreciation to the Murray Lampert Construction team.  The difference between receiving a Torch Award and being named Best of San Diego is huge.  To be considered for a BBB Torch Award, an extensive entry binder has to be created and submitted, documenting a company’s ethical business practices and achievements.  All entries are reviewed by an independent panel of judges and graded based on four important criteria to determine a company’s commitment to ethics and integrity.  This unbiased competition is open to BBB members and non-members, and is based on merit and actual achievements not by buying online ads, print ads or consumers votes.

Winning the Better Business Bureau Torch Award was a major accomplishment for which I am proud to recognize my team members for showing the kind of dedication to quality, attention to detail, customer satisfaction, and community service participation which obviously was apparent to the judges.  Receiving an award for the true merits and attributes of our company makes me extremely proud.

Gregg Cantor, President

Mr. & Mrs. D in San Diego recently had a closet and home office added.  Their daughter has decided to make it her new play area.

Many of our clients have the need for extensions to existing rooms, bedroom additions, home offices, or even private space for parents of children moving back in.  

Listening to the individual needs of a homeowner and delivering a finished project that is high quality, funcitonal, and adds value is the goal of a a good contractor.  

This project took 2 months to build.  Now Mr. & Mrs. D and their daughter are happily enjoying their very functional space.