Before you hire a landscape contractor, read this!
Kenneth Willis
Here are some easy tips on hiring a home remodeling contractor for your
next home improvement (or repair) project, courtesy of...
THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNERS
(a non-profit consumer organization established to aide and assist the
both homeowners as well as buyers)
Tips #1: Most states require contractors to be licensed. Always make
sure the license you are shown is valid, and that it belongs to the
person to whom you are speaking. A popular scam involves the use of
licenses which do not actually belong to the person bidding the work.
Also, keep in mind that a contractor cannot loan a license to another
person for the purpose of performing contracting work anymore than you
can loan your drivers license to someone else to drive a car.
In California, any type of contracting work which exceeds $300 in
value must be performed by a licensed contractor.
Tips #2: Make sure that the contractor has valid insurance. Your
contractor should have two types of insurance in order to protect you
while the work is being performed. They are:
General liability insurance - To cover any accidents that may
occur at your home during the course of the job.
Workers compensation insurance - To cover possible injuries to
workers at the job site. In California, every employer must have this
type of insurance.
Tip #3: References: The three most important references a contractor
can provide concern their current client and the two most recent clients
for whom they have performed work. Here are some questions for you to
consider when interviewing the references:
1. Was the job started on time?
2. Was the job finished on time?
3. Were there any surprises during the job?
4. Was the job completed for the pre-agreed upon price?
5. Did you find it easy to get in contact with the contractor
while the work was in progress?
6. If you had this work to do over again, would you be willing
to hire the same contractor?
Tip #4: Suppliers. Ask the contractor for the names of his or her
primary material supplier(s) and then call upon them to inquire about the
contractor in question. Ask whether the contractor pays bills promptly
and whether or not the supplier would recommend the contractor to any of
their customers?
Tip #5: Contracts. Remember these fundamental rules:
1. Never give a contractor money (cash), and never provide any
type of payment without a written contract.
2. Never pay a contractor more than 10% of the contract as a
down payment after the contract is signed. In California, the law says
down payments are 10% or $1,000, whichever is less!
3. As the work progresses, you will use a system of 'progress'
payments to pay off the contract. These payments should be made at the
end of each step of actual work. Example:
1. The foundation has been poured and is set. A payment is due
for the concrete and all related labor.
2. When the framing is completed, it is time to pay for the
lumber and the concurrent labor costs.
3. Electrical work is completed - payment for that step is due.
The same is true for plumbing, etc.
4. The roof has been completed, then it is time to pay for
materials and labor, and so on.
It is not appropriate for the contractor to expect you to pay for
materials in advance. If the contractor does not have the credit to
acquire the materials and have them delivered to the job site, then you
should be speaking to another contractor. Good contractors will not
argue about these points.
Tip #6. Paperwork. Keep a good file with all of your paperwork. All
receipts, bills, the contract, copies of the building permit(s), etc. If
it pertains to your job, no how insignificant you think it is, keep it!
Please help us! If you have any suggestions to add to our list, please
let us know. Also, we would like to know whether or not you find these
suggestions helpful. We are constantly striving to help homeowners like
you.
Questions? Do not hesitate to contact us. Our e-mail address is:
<Lch...@ix.netcom.com>
You are welcome to visit our Web Site at: <http://www.csz.com/lch/