The Most Difficult Home Improvement Contractors to Find

If you’ve ever talked to a pushy window salesman, you know some areas of the home improvement industry are more competitive than others. While many projects involve the aggravating process of sifting through half a dozen companies, other projects can be equally annoying for their difficulty in finding any contractor at all. Sometimes, you’re just up a creek without a paddle, but by looking at the projects and situations that create the absence of qualified contractors, you can prepare for and possibly remedy this absence.

Methodology in Identifying these Home Improvements

HomeAdvisor, the leading online resource connecting homeowners to home improvement contractors, tracks which home improvements have the fewest contractors chasing them. How many contractors respond to homeowners’ online requests is a good starting point to identify which projects are most problematic for finding contractors. Keep in mind that, while this is how the article is determining which projects make for the toughest places to find good contractors, the following factors contribute to the difficulty in finding these contractors industry-wide.

Low Profit Margins put Projects under the Radar

Some projects are hard to find contractors for not because qualified professionals aren’t out there but because they don’t see enough profit in these projects to make it worth their time. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling, for example, has nearly become its own entity distinct from the rest of the home improvement industry. It’s a predictable result given the general shortage of home improvement contractors out there. Plus, some jobs just aren’t as much fun as others, and as contractors develop more skills, they move on to more satisfying and profitable jobs.

Examples of the projects with low profit margins and low match rates from HomeAdvisor include accessory repair for TVs or home theaters (11%), bathtub resurfacing (38%), and furniture repair (48%). You’ll also notice that each of these projects is connected to larger industries with more profitable projects that tend to draw contractors to them. Why repair TV accessories when you can install them or set-up entire home entertainment systems? Why resurface bathtubs when you can remodel entire bathrooms? Why repair furniture when you can custom-build pieces or do other intricate woodworking? One such answer would be to specialize and dominate in one of these niche markets. Consider that bathroom remodels, at 185%, average nearly two contractors, home theater installation averages 155%, and interior trim or molding installation averages 183%.

New Projects Lack Qualified Contractors

With the recent emphasis on sustainable and energy-efficient construction and home remodeling, the development of new technologies and innovations tend to severely outpace trained and licensed contractors. These projects also show some of the most dramatically low match rates. Solar-powered electrical systems have only an 8% match rate. At 28%, the match rate for geothermal installation isn’t as eye-catching, but it’s still well-below the project average.

Another big problem is unrealistic homeowner expectations. These projects are cost-effective in the long-run, but homeowners nevertheless underestimate the initial investment. The hassle in finding homeowners who are serious about these projects can turn off some contractors to the industry. Yet, with more than 60,000 online requests for solar-powered electrical systems left unanswered by contractors, the demand and the money is there once the market starts to mature.

Lack of Proximity to Commercial Areas Never Helps

It won’t come as a surprise to most people that commercial areas or homes connected to a major metropolitan area will make finding a contractor easier. Companies follow the consumers, and the density of homes in these areas make setting up a home improvement business more attractive and viable. Overall, the match rate for major metropolitan areas can be nearly twice that of the rest of the country. Generally speaking, the more rural the area, the harder it is for homeowners to find home improvement contractors. While these projects may not be exclusive to rural areas, wood or pellet stove installation (17%) and chain link fences (36%) are solid examples of projects that indicate the dearth of contractors in more rural areas.

Not much can be done in these situations, unless you can find someone else who has similar needs in the area. Multiple projects can entice some contractors to expand their service and make a greater commute, but you’ll probably still need to pay an extra fee for transportation costs. Likewise, if the project isn’t time-sensitive, you can also ask contractors to give you a call, if they ever travel your way. Patience is key whenever you have trouble finding a suitable contractor for your home improvement needs.

No Comments Yet