Stucco is a great choice for your home’s exterior. In general, stucco is resistant to heat, water and flame, which means it provides an important layer of protection to the outside of your home. Stucco is also quite easy to maintain. It requires much less upkeep than many other housing materials. On top of all that, stucco just looks good. The distinctive finish will set your home apart from all the other homes on the block. However, if you want all the benefits of stucco, then you need to find the best stucco contractor to get the job done. Start your search with several criteria in mind.

Do Your Research on Local Contractors

In the age of the internet, there is simply no excuse for not doing your research. For the most part, the vast majority of contractors list their services online. This makes it easy to find a list of your options for a local stucco contractor. When doing your research, look at the range of options. As you consider each one, look at the services the contractor offers and the type of work the contractor normally completes. You want to make sure you have a contractor that is matched well to your specific needs. By doing your research, you should be able to find this information out before you even make the first contact.

Vet Each Contractor for Credentials

Hiring a stucco contractor is a big decision. This is the exterior of your home. If you hire someone who does a poor job, then you will have to live with it for years to come or shell out serious cash to have the work done twice. Since neither of these options is preferable, you are better served by hiring the best. Therefore, check the credentials of each potential contractor. Make sure the contractor has the experience to get the job done. Additionally, it is also a good idea to see if the contractor has official schooling, certification or training. This information should be available with the contractor’s contact information. You can follow up with professional organizations, business organizations and schools to verify the credentials if you have doubts or concerns. It is also important to make sure that the contractor is licensed and insured.

Look for as Many References as Possible

As good as the first two tips are, you should remember that you do not have to take the contractor’s word for anything. With so much information online, it is very likely that there are online reviews for your contractor as well. If so, then take the time to read the reviews. These reviews can be very helpful. Just remember that some segment of the reviews is likely to be biased. Instead of worrying about extreme reviews, look for overall trends. If problems crop up in most comments, then it is worth noting them. If one or two disgruntled customers appear out of many positive reviews, then that could just be par for the course. If the contractor does not have any reviews online, then think carefully about that as well. It is possible that the contractor is a small or new operation, but it could also be a sign that the contractor is not established in his or her craft.

Talk to the Contractor About the Job

As you narrow down your options, you should start to talk to a few potential contractors. As you talk to various contractors, get a feel for their sense of the job. You should feel confident that the contractor knows what you want. If you are not on the same page as your contractor, then it can be very hard to get an outcome that you crave. Have the contractor talk through the process in a way that makes you feel comfortable and confident all at the same time.

Always Get Your Bids in Writing Before Signing

As a last tip, do not be afraid to get bids before selecting your contractor. You deserve to know how much you will be spending to get the job done. Just remember that paying more is not always a bad thing. You simply have to be confident that you are paying for quality before you pick the best contractor.