This page was generated due to my experiences with other contractors.

 

1. Be aware that contractor licenses numbering B-900,000 are newly licensed contractors.  Unfortunately this means that they may not very experienced and your project may be one of their first of its type (Although they may lead you to believe they know what they are doing but may not do the job the way it should be done.)  This can result in wasted materials and also can be a headache later on when the contractor is long gone.  I am fully aware of the estimated useful life of materials and methods and means of construction to maximize materials and minimize costs.  I build with precision and know how to avoid the pitfalls of doing things the wrong way.  Usually it does not take much effort to do things right and cutting corners in the wrong places can lead to costly problems down the road.

 

2. Watch out for a low (or high) bid.  Unscrupulous contractors will give a nice low price for a project and then hit you with change orders during the project.  Unforeseen items or additional work is a legitimate reason for a change order, but I usually just do additional work as part of the project and know that small things that don't take much time or cost are priceless to the homeowner.  Example:  During a recent remodel, I suggested that a recessed light in a hallway would be nicer than the existing translucent plastic cover over the attic access with a light above it for hallway illumination.  I installed the light and replaced the plastic attic access cover without charge since I was there doing other work.  If you have what you think is a high bid, you probably do.  I believe reasonable prices for quality work should be demanded, not high prices for questionable work.  I do what I say I will do and more, usually without any "change orders" too.  If you are paying $4,000 to $6000 labor for a bathroom remodel, why should I hit you with a change order if you decide you would like an additional electrical outlet installed or if it would look nice with crown moulding around the ceiling.  I believe that change orders are a way for contractors to nickel and dime you and I don't work that way.

 

3. How should a contractor act in your home?  Does he wipe his shoes at the door (or take them off if there is a chance of something on the shoes that could get on your carpet?)  Protecting a home from dust and damage outside the construction area is very important to me.  I have seen other contractors create large amounts of dust by abrasive cutting of gypsum board, not using floor protection,  being careless and damaging walls and floors, even smoking in someone's home!  It is appalling that some contractors are not respectful of peoples' homes and do not recognize the privilege it is to be hired by an owner to work in their home.  I know construction is messy and that is why it is important to clean up daily (or hourly during demolition).  I sometimes may hire a cleaning service as a nice touch after a large project.

 

4. Has the contractor been sued?  Chances are, if your potential contractor has a relationship with an attorney, that is cause for alarm.  I have almost never had an unhappy client and everyone would always refer me to friends and family. 

 

5. What paperwork is required for a project?  The following items should be part of any remodeling contract:

 

6. Liability insurance is not the same as being bonded!  A license bond of $12,500 is required of all licensed contractors, but that is not the same as a performance bond, which is usually for large projects, especially public works.  Contractors are not required to have liability insurance, only worker's compensation if the contractor has employees.  I do not have employees, and perform almost all work myself, thus eliminating possible problems caused by the inexperienced 'helpers' and reduce costs by not needing workers comp.  Although I have never needed insurance, I currently am insured by Financial Pacific Insurance Company with a commercial general liability policy of $1,000,000 each occurance and $2,000,000 aggregate for clients' peace of mind.  My insurance does not have a sunset and includes manifestation.  Ask if your contractor's insurance has a sunset.

 

7.  A word about the Better Business Bureau:  Recently I was contacted by BBB to become a member if I wanted.  They informed me that I am eligible due to the length of time in business and that no violations, infractions, or complaints have ever been logged against me.  When I learned of the cost to be a member, I said no thank you.  My referrals and references speak more for me than the BBB can!  That BBB symbol a contractor touts only means they paid for a membership.  The membership is as easy to get as a magazine subscription!  How about that prestigous torch award you hear on radio ads?  That just means the business has not any complaints to them in a certain number of years.

 

8.  Beware the "paper" contractor.  This is typically a salesman type with a contractors' license and no tools.  Imagine that, a contractor with no tools!  Believe me it exists unfortunately.  Ask if the contractor you are interviewing performs the work with in-house staff or will be subcontracting the job to another contractor.  If so, what this usually means is a higher price to you.  Paper contractors can skim off the top up to 50% before selling the job to an actual working contractor, and that is alot of money out of your pocket to someone you may only see at the signing of the contract and at the final payment.  I am not a salesman; I am the one to be working on your project start to finish and be there morning til night until the job is done.  I only work one project at a time to focus on it and get it right.

 

9. The duct-cleaning scam:  Recently, I was working for a customer who wanted to get their ductwork cleaned.  The contractor said that after inspecting the ducts indicated that they were rusted and required replacement.  I said show me where.  He said it was in the attic that he saw the affected area that required replacement.  After getting a ladder and going into the attic, he pulled away the insulation around the galvanized metal piping and we saw shiny like-new metal.  He then said that it was inside the pipe that was rusted and we would not be able to see it.  I got a flashlight and looked into registers- again like-new piping.  No sign of any rust.  The contractor said that he was a "professional" and the ductwork could not be cleaned and required replacement.  It was an obvious attempt to make a job where there wasn't one.  Beware of the "professionals" who will tell you something needs replacement when it may not.  If you are not sure, get a second opinion.  Don't just take the word of someone with a fancy truck!  After the owner told this contractor he would be getting a second opinion, the man left in a huff, saying why don't you get a third opinion!

 

10.  Will you hurry up?  Recently, while remodeling a bathroom I saw a kitchen cabinet installer take five days to install a few simple cabinets.  While this may not seem like a problem, it is an inconvenience to be without a kitchen and to take this long to screw ten cabinets to the wall is just irritating.  It was literally two cabinets per day, two to three screws in each cabinet, no special circumstances, no complicated angles.  This installation should have taken one day.  If you have a quote for some work done without a time frame, ask how long the work will take.  If it seems like too long, maybe find someone else to do it.  A bathroom remodel or kitchen remodel, no matter how complicated, should take no longer than three weeks.

 

11.  Here is a good one:  I recommended a flooring contractor to install some hardwood flooring in my customer's home where I was remodeling the kitchen.  They agreed on a price per square foot without a contract and the contractor did the work.  After he finished, he gave them a bill that did not reflect the square footage of the rooms, but rather the square feet of the material he used!  Seems to me that would not be a good way to ensure economical use of the customers' material!  After heated argument, they did pay that contractor.  But, he did not do the other hardwood flooring job they had and also did not get the referral to a few friends, I did.  So to squeeze them for an extra hundred bucks actually ended up costing him a few thousand.  Hope he learned from that.  The lesson I learned was to be very careful before referring anyone.  

 

12.  What is in an address?  I have found that some contractors or unlicensed people will put a PO box on their business card or merely an area of town.  Why?  What are they hiding?  I don't understand what is the point of not providing a real address.  I do business out of my home and have done so for nearly ten years and provide my address on contracts and business cards.  This way I am not renting a commercial space and having that additional overhead to pay for.

 

13.  Paint!  Here is an often overlooked portion of the project, yet a good paint job is the finishing touch.  Yes the kid down the street will paint your new bathroom for $50 but a cheap paint job often includes drips, runs, sloppy lines, and paint on things you dont want.  Does it need a second coat?  Most times, two coats are required, especially darker colors.  I like the new Behr nanoguard paint with primer in it.  Better to get good quality paint and have good results.  Preparation to the surfaces to be painted and protection to areas not to be painted are musts! (is that a word?)

 

14.  Would you do it like that on your own home?  Yes, absolutely I will take care of your project as if I am working on my house.  No corners cut, nothing shoddy, I do the best job I can because I want you to be satisfied with the job and maybe you will refer me to your friends and neighbors.  Working this way, I have worked on some streets one home after the next.  Do what I say I will do and do it right!

 

More items to be posted!