I wish I had a nickel for every time I was asked this question while working at the paving stone manufacturer. I could have retired by now! This industry is constantly changing. In the ’90s, when paving stones were getting their start here in the Northwest, this wasn’t much of a challenge because so few companies installed paving stones. During this time, you were lucky to find a contractor who knew what they were!   

Then, in the early to mid-2000s, everybody decided to jump on board and offer to install patio pavers. At this point, most contractors weren’t chosen by how much they charged or how well they presented their companies, but rather how soon they could start the project. The demand was so high you were fortunate to find a contractor who wasn’t booked out for months!   

In 2009, this all changed. After the economy took a huge hit, choosing a contractor became all about one thing: price. The least expensive bid became the winner in most cases. Since 2010, the industry seems to be stabilizing and many of the “fly-by-night” contractors were weeded out. I’ve found that customers who use professional services are typically most satisfied when they choose based on how comfortable they feel with the contractor.

Price is also always a factor. It’s a good idea to get three bids. Since every job is different, having multiple bids gives some perspective on what a fair price actually is. If you have a bid that seems way too low, there’s a reason for that. Low bids are normally due to inexperience and could cause the contractor to cut corners or ask for more money in the middle of the project, leading to unforeseen costs. On the other end, you could have a bid that seems like it’s way too high. Unfortunately, there are construction companies that will start with a high price and keep lowering it until you sign the contract. This tactic is common when trying to charge more than fair or normal amounts for work performed.   

You should never feel pressured to commit to any job offered by a contractor. This ensures bid accuracy when comparing contractors and also helps to ensure that the installation process will be performed correctly. Customers are typically most dissatisfied when something is promised during the estimating process and wasn’t delivered or performed during the installation. That was a common issue I came across frequently while working as a manufacturer. Check that each contractor bidding is specking the correct type of materials and amounts of materials. This ensures bid accuracy when comparing contractors and also helps to ensure that the installation process will be performed correctly. 

Make sure you have everything in writing as far as what type of materials you should receive and exactly what work will be performed.