Your siding project is a big task to do alone, so you call in extra help, but how do you know you’re picking the right contractor for the job? The right contractor can be the difference between a mediocre job with unexpected problems and maintenance and a pristine finish to your home improvement project with no hiccups.

Here’s what to pay attention to:

Google Reviews

Sometimes looking at reviews is all it takes. When looking for your siding contractor, plenty of contractors will pop up on Google, but digging into the reviews will show their true colors. Look for a business that has mostly, if not all, positive reviews and a lot of them.

Angie’s List Reviews

Angie’s List is a great, free tool for homeowners to find the best people to complete their home projects. By just searching “siding”, you’ll find dozens of contractors with reviews to see the options for your project. You’ll also take a short questionnaire regarding the type of work and product you’re looking for so you can be matched with the best business to meet your preferences.

BBB Ratings and Accreditation

The Better Business Bureau is “an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers trust each other”. A rating on BBB includes many factors: complaint history, time in business, transparent practices and more. All of these add up to a grade between A+ and F. This score will show homeowners who to trust for your next home project.

Home Advisor Reviews

Home Advisor has a similar process. The site tells you what services each business offers and includes verified reviews, service awards and need-to-know information like whether they have free estimates and warranties.

Warranties

Speaking of warranties, when you update your home, it’s important to invest in a warranty to ensure your product. Siding warranties should include a warranty on the service as well as the product itself, so if the installation or the siding isn’t up to par, you can get your money back or receive maintenance to fix the problem. A reputable siding contractor will provide warranties and will explicitly say this on their website or over the phone. If they don’t, ask. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you are covered if anything goes wrong.

Financing

Similar to other contracting companies, siding contractors do not offer financing themselves, but use a third party vendor. They should also offer payment plans to help offset the entire cost. This process may seem long and involved, but if you follow this guide, financing your project will be easy to navigate.

Siding Options

If you’re not sure what type of siding to go with for your home, you want the expert contractor to lead you in the right direction. They should house a couple of types, including James Hardie Siding and LP Smartsiding. A good siding company should offer these along with classic Vinyl Siding. Making sure your contractor has at least a few options of siding let’s you know that they’re knowledgable on which types will be good for your home. It also let’s you have the freedom to decide which is right for you.

Friends and Family Recommendations

To find someone to trust, go to the people you trust. It’s likely someone you know has had to upgrade or add siding to their home. Ask them who they used and how their experience was. Reviews are similar to this, but looking for recommendations from your family and friends adds an extra layer of security to the business you’ll hire.

Finding a siding contractor doesn’t have to be a painful process when you know what to look for.