The Cheaper Quote Cost Him $3,000 More: How to Choose a Contractor in Baltimore

I'm Victor Cataldi. I run Elite Finishes here in Baltimore. I want to tell you about a job I didn't get, because it teaches more than any job I did.

A while back I met a business owner who was opening a new place here in Baltimore. I walked the space, listened to what he needed, and gave him a written quote. He went with someone else: a friend of his business partner. Their number was about $3,000 lower than mine.

I don't hold that against anybody. People like to work with people they know, and $3,000 is real money.

Here's what happened. The job ran about $6,000 over the quote. It took weeks longer than promised. And one of the workers on that site walked off with a $1,200 speaker that belonged to the business.

Do the math. The "cheaper" quote ended up costing him about $3,000 more than mine, plus the time, plus the stress, plus the speaker. He told me later he wished he'd gone with us.

I'm not telling you this to knock anybody. I'm telling you because I see it every year, in kitchens, in bathrooms, in paint jobs, from Towson to Glen Burnie. The lowest number on paper is almost never the lowest number at the end. So here's exactly what I'd check before you hire anyone. Including me.

1. Check the MHIC license yourself

In Maryland, anyone doing home improvement work on your house needs a license from the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. Not "my guy has one." The company you're signing with.

Don't take anyone's word for it. Look it up on the state's license search. It takes two minutes. Ours is MHIC 153498, and I'd rather you check it than trust me.

Why it matters: a licensed contractor is accountable to the state. If something goes badly wrong, homeowners who hired a licensed contractor have options, including the state's Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. Hire an unlicensed friend-of-a-friend and you're mostly on your own.

2. Get the quote in writing, itemized

A real quote tells you what's included and what isn't. For a paint job: how many coats, what prep, which surfaces, what paint. For a remodel: demo, materials, fixtures, permits, cleanup.

A one-line number on a text message is not a quote. It's a guess. And guesses are how a $15,000 job turns into $21,000.

When you compare two quotes, line them up item by item. Nine times out of ten, the cheaper one is cheaper because something is missing. Less prep. One coat instead of two. Cheaper paint. No permit. That missing piece always shows up later, either on your bill or on your walls.

3. Ask how they handle changes and surprises

Old Baltimore houses hide things, whether it's a rowhouse in Canton or a split-level in Parkville. Rotted subfloor under a tub. Old wiring behind a wall. Plaster that crumbles when you touch it. (If you're planning a basement, add water to that list.)

A good contractor tells you up front: "Here's what could come up in a house this age, and here's how we'll handle it." Changes should be written down and agreed on before the work happens, with a price. Not discovered on the final invoice.

Ask this question directly: "If you find something unexpected, what happens?" How they answer tells you a lot.

4. Watch the deposit

Maryland law limits how much a home improvement contractor can collect up front: no more than one-third of the contract price before work starts. If someone wants half or more in cash before they show up, walk away.

5. Know exactly who will be in your home

This is the one that bit the business owner in my story. Ask:

• Who will actually be doing the work? Your employees, or whoever you find that week?
• Will the same crew be here start to finish?
• Who's in charge on site if I have a question?

You're handing people the keys to the place your family lives. You should know their names.

6. Ask for proof of insurance

If a worker gets hurt on your property, or a ladder goes through your window, whose insurance pays? Ask for a certificate of insurance. A real company sends it without blinking.

7. Read the reviews, and read them for the right things

Don't just look at the stars. Read what people say about communication, cleanup, and whether the price held. Those are the things that make a job go well or badly.

How we do it at Elite Finishes

I'll tell you how we work, and you can hold us to it:

• I come out myself, walk the project with you, and give you a written estimate. Free, no pressure.
• The estimate spells out what's included. If you want to compare it line by line with someone else's, I'll help you do it.
• If we find something behind a wall, you hear about it before we fix it, with a price, in writing.
• Your floors and furniture get covered. Your home gets cleaned up when we leave.
• We're licensed (MHIC 153498) and insured, and we're a family business. My name is on every job.

If you're getting quotes for painting, a bathroom, or a kitchen, I'd be glad to give you one of them. Even if you don't pick us, use the checklist above with whoever you hire. Request your free estimate here, or call me at 443-825-0206.

Where we work

We're based in Baltimore City and work across Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County and Howard County, including Towson, Catonsville, Ellicott City, Columbia, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Parkville, Pikesville, Owings Mills, Severna Park. See all the areas we serve.

Keep reading

• How much does it cost to paint a house in Baltimore?
• How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Baltimore?
• How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Baltimore?
• Bathroom remodel ROI: which upgrades pay off at resale
• Signs your kitchen needs a remodel, not just a refresh
• How long does exterior paint last in Maryland?

Our services: Interior painting, Exterior painting, Bathroom remodeling, Kitchen remodeling, Basement finishing, Flooring, Home remodeling, Decks, Siding. See everything we do.