Good hawkers are easy to recognise. They have long queues all day, people come to their stall from all corners of Singapore (and even JB!), they have 4 chopsticks from Makansutra, they get featured in Makan Places Lost & Found, etc. Some of them even close by 3 pm because business is so good!
Good contractors are harder to spot. You can't see open queues, you don't know where their customers come from, there's no independent reviewers you can trust.
But here are eight tips for you to recognise a good contractor.
1. Good contractors don't do gimmicks.
No free TV when you sign up with them, no free aircon for contracts above $30K, etc.
Simply put, good contractors don't need such gimmicks to drive their business.
Generally, it's only contractors who don't have enough business that resort to such gimmicks.
2. Good contractors cost more.
Yes, bargaining is part of S'pore culture, even good contractors will give you some discounts when you ask for it, and it's dumb to accept the first price you are quoted. But don't expect 30-40% discounts or special deals. Good contractors have enough business they don't resort to such tactics.
Good contractors will be more expensive than average contractors. This is basic economics-- demand and supply-- and marketing-- quality, reliability, etc. vs price.
3a. You have to wait for a good contractor.
Good contractors, like good hawkers, have long queues too. You have to wait your turn.
4b. Good contractors do not rush their work.
A corollary of the above.
Once your queue number is called, you still have to allow enough time for quality work to be delivered. A good contractor will finish the work as fast as reasonably practical, but he will resist the pressure to rush because it usually results in shoddy work.
4. Good contractors don't advertise much.
Because they have enough work at hand. And because this is an industry that relies on word-of-mouth.
5. Good contractors don't pass themselves off as ID's
Actually, I don't think there are any real ID's in Singapore, and that's already covered in another Reflection.
Good contractors are good at project management and coordination of contract works and management of subcontractors. They know their limits, and they do not generally go around advertising themselves as ID's because they are often guys who have worked their way up from the ground up, they know they are not fine arts graduates with design expertise.
That said, a good contractor can also probably implement any design you want them to do, because they've probably executed it before, and they can hook you up with other ID's they've worked with if you're looking for an ID.
6. Good contractors stand behind their work
If a defect crops up after handover, they will rectify it promptly. Because they know this industry is about customer satisfaction and word-of-mouth.
7. Good contractors have all the necessary licences
They don't "borrow" other firms' HDB licences, for example. Why should they?
And certainly, they don't lend their licences to others. Why would they risk their licences?
8. Good contractors will sign a contract with you.
They won't force their contract on you, and will accept industry standards, such as Radac contracts.
