I've written from time to time about my experiences with contractors over the years, in particular the last three-plus years, where Mom and I have worked with quite a few of them on big projects and small projects alike.
In the spring of 2023, we had our crawlspace redone after getting some not-so-great news from both a home inspector and a structural engineer. The house, which is nearing the 50-year mark, was not unsafe, but it definitely needed some work underneath because at some point down the line, it would have gotten unsafe without the work.
We had mold remediation done. Termite treatment (which included bait stations that get checked a few times a year) also needed to be done in the crawlspace, as well as a spray for powder post beetles. About 75 percent of the wood needed to either be replaced or sistered. Several new piers were put in. We got a French drain system. The crawlspace was also encapsulated, and a dehumidifier was installed.
Yeah, it was a lot of work, and it cost a lot, but I learned an awful lot from that experience and some others we've gone through in recent years, including a recent roof replacement.
The Burnt Sienna shingles we got for the roof. Absolutely love them. pic.twitter.com/B97O2SRCeh
— Sister Toldjah 💙 (@sistertoldjah) July 20, 2026
Here are a few things I've learned, or had to be reminded of, from my dealings with contractors since moving back in with Mom to be her caregiver.
1. Do your research ahead of time.
Sometimes when there is an issue in the house, and a contractor needs to be brought in, the homeowner who is making the phone calls has a rough idea of what needs to be done and how to do it - they just need someone else to perform the work whatever reason (may lack the full expertise, have a bad back, etc). In other instances, the homeowner doesn't have the first clue where to begin or what questions to ask a prospective contractor.
I was in the latter category when it came to the crawlspace. So before I called in the first company to take a look and give me a quote, I did a lot of Googling and YouTubing. Just enough to know some basic questions to ask. The contractor we eventually chose even mentioned one time to me early in the process that I was "asking some good questions." I joked with him that I was still waiting on YouTube to send me my crawlspace degree in the mail.
You don't want to gaslight and pretend you know everything, but you also want to start out with a bare minimum of knowledge so the contractor will have less of an opportunity to sell you on things you may not need.
2. Relatedly, don't be afraid to ask questions.
Whether you've done your homework or not, the person you are talking to is still going to have a lot more knowledge and expertise on the subject than you. If they want your business bad enough, they should be willing to take the time needed to explain things to you and walk you through the process in a way that makes sense.
3. Make sure to get everything in writing.
That includes quotes, contracts, receipts, warranty info, etc. Also, if you like the person you're dealing with at the start or middle of the process, try to make sure to get their direct cell phone number instead of having to call the office to try and touch base with them. Some companies prefer the main office be called, but it's been my experience that most contractors/service technicians are willing to give you their direct number to call. Also, where applicable, take pictures of the work for documentation purposes.
4. If you've previously had a big, costly project done, don't divulge that information to the contractor.
In the case of our home, it's not too difficult for a contractor to see where work has been done versus where it hasn't. But in our case, I was telling prospective contractors that we'd spent a small fortune on the crawlspace, because I didn't want them to think I was haggling over the cost of something because I was being "cheap" or didn't want to pay for quality work. I think this has backfired on me, though, because I feel like it has invited higher estimates and suggestions for additional work - because they wrongly assume we're made of money.
5. Depending on the type of work done, make sure you have it looked at once or twice a year.
Our crawlspace is checked out once a year by our original contractor (who we trust and who has been great to work with), and we get the dehumidifier filter changed out twice a year. With the new roof, our roofing guy is going to be looking at it once a year to stay on top of any potential maintenance issues. And we also have our pest control service out regularly to do crawlspace checks for powder post beetles and to check the termite bait stations to ensure there is no new activity. Having all these things done periodically will hopefully help head off costly future problems at the pass.
I know I'm preaching to the choir on some of this, but I figure there are some people out there like me who just want to do the best they can in taking care of their home, but who may sometimes get overwhelmed by the process.
Got any tips or tricks to share? Please let us know in the comments.
