Our
home represents a valued treasure and as such it behooves us keep it
safely
growing to serve us. In this sense, we should safeguard against those
who would
attempt to steal part of it away from us by whatever unscrupulous
means. I'm
referring here to the unlicensed contractor whose only interest
oftentimes is
how much he can take from you relative to how much work he actually does.
Choosing
a reputable contractor is one of the more important decisions you'll
make since
it will determine how seriously you indeed value your home. Whether you
are
contracting to build your ultimate dream home or doing remodeling work
beyond
the basic weekend handy-homeowner project, you should consider the
benefits of
hiring a professional. With a little time spent investigating a
contractor and
by doing a little basic homework, you can be assured the job will be
done
properly, to your satisfaction, and on schedule. Granted the
homebuilding and
remodeling industry has gotten some very bad press but such
expectations are
not as unrealistic as some would have you believe.
As one
company out
of many out there who are indeed concerned about building a solid
reputation
and a good rapport with their clients and the public, we offer some
tips. Spend
a little time before spending money. But saving money doesn't
necessarily
equate to spending less. Don't be tempted to look only at the lower
bid. It's
good to be a shrewd consumer but also remember that the licensed
contractor
will have certain built-in costs which will almost always make it
impossible to
compete with the handyman down the street. These include such costs as
his
license, bond, workman's comp and liability insurance. On the other
hand, a
contractor who is willing to pay such expenses in order to maintain a
legitimate business is more inclined to do his best to keep his clients
happy--often going out of his way to do so. The Handyman has none of
this to
worry about, and often hides expenses from the government to avoid
paying taxes
as well.
Remember, don't sacrifice
quality for low
price.
- Check the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) to make sure his license is up to date. It's a simple matter of going to their website.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau. Also check to see whether the contractor is a member of any Builders Associations.
- Make sure the contractor has proof of insurance and carries workers compensation insurance.
- Check references. A good contractor will always be willing to supply them.
- See that the contractor has a permanent business location, phone number, etc.
- See that the contractor is willing to give you a guarantee, clearly spelled out in a detailed contract. There are guidelines that the CSLB requires contractors to include in any contract.
- Beware of unusually low bids or low advertised pricing and don't be fooled into looking only at the low bids. Often, the less honorable among contractors will present an unbeatably low bid which is loaded with future Change Orders. Make sure you have investigated the various grades of materials, fixtures and finishes that suit you, prior to planning your project, and have specified these in your bid request. This way, a contractor can not come back and request more money later--simply because certain terms were not spelled out. It's always a good idea on larger remodel projects to hire a designer to draw and list specifics of what you wish to do.
If you find a contractor
with whom you are
comfortable and communicate easily, but who may not have the extensive
list of
completed projects as some larger contractors in your area, don't be
too quick
to cross that company off your list. They still may have quite an
extensive
background experience and may still be extremely knowledgeable and
capable Builders
or Remodelers. Check references, and when checking, don't just look
at the
type or size of job that was done. Ask whether their company was
dependable overall: Did they show up on time? Did
they do the work that was expected of them? Did they keep scheduled
appointments? Were they neat? Were their sub-contractors professional
and on
schedule as well?