having someone who’s part of the community does make me feel like they’ll actually pick up the phone if something goes wrong.
That’s a big one for me too. I’ve seen bigger outfits underbid just to land the job, then cut corners or disappear when warranty stuff comes up. With local folks, I always ask for a list of past projects and actually drive by a couple if I can. Also, double-checking their insurance and license is key—sometimes smaller crews get a little lax on paperwork. Not saying big companies are always bad, but I’d rather deal with someone who has skin in the game locally.
Not saying big companies are always bad, but I’d rather deal with someone who has skin in the game locally.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a couple of local crews flake out when things got tough. One time, the owner just stopped answering after a leak showed up six months later. Bigger companies sometimes have more resources to back up their warranties, even if they feel less personal. I guess for me, it’s less about size and more about how they handle problems—checking references is good, but I also look for how long they’ve been around and if they’ve got a real office. Sometimes that stability matters more than just being “local.”
That’s a fair point about stability. I’ve seen both sides—some small local outfits are fantastic, but others disappear when things get complicated. On the flip side, I’ve also dealt with big companies that shuffle you between departments and make it tough to get a straight answer. It really comes down to how they handle issues after the job’s done.
One thing I always check is whether they actually have a physical office and staff, not just a PO box or a cell number. If they’ve been around for years and have a track record with commercial projects, that’s usually a good sign. I’d also add that underbidding is a red flag, no matter the company size. If the price seems way lower than others, there’s probably something missing—either corners will get cut or you’ll get hit with change orders later.
References help, but I like to see recent projects in person if possible. Sometimes you can spot shortcuts just by looking at the details. In the end, it’s less about “local vs big” and more about who stands behind their work when things go sideways.
If the price seems way lower than others, there’s probably something missing—either corners will get cut or you’ll get hit with change orders later.
That’s the part that gets people every time. I’ve seen bids come in so cheap it almost feels like a typo, but then you walk the finished project and notice things like missing fire caulking or HVAC units that look like they were installed on a Friday afternoon. I always remind folks—if it sounds too good to be true, it usually means someone’s skipping steps behind the drywall. Seen it more times than I’d like...
That’s the truth—cheap bids almost always mean you’re paying for it somewhere else. I’ve had projects where the “savings” disappeared fast once we found out things like insulation were skipped or the paint was so thin you could see seams. Sometimes a higher bid really is just someone being honest about what it takes to do it right. It’s tough convincing owners, though, when budgets are tight.
