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Contractors : Background Check |
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Screening
Contractors / Handymen / Home Repair Workers is one way you
can protect yourself from unlicensed
Home Contractors.
Each year unlicensed
Home Contractors cause major headaches for homeowners and state
and local investigators. If the
Home Contractor
is not insured or his/her insurance is not active you could
face huge bills if a worker is injured on the job and chooses to
sue. Your safety may be at stake if the
Home Contractor
has a criminal record. References do not always give a true
picture as they can be biased. To save money and for your safety you
can start by getting a thorough background check. Screen Home Contractors, Background Check Reports provide you with. Credentials of the Home Contractor Status of his License. Status of his Insurance. Liens, Judgments and Bankruptcies Check Any complaints filed against the Home Contractors Any awards or Rumors Basic State Criminal Record Search 20 Year Address History According to the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA) and the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), Home Contractors garnered the second highest number of consumer complaints. Dealings with Home Contractors have been a sore point for consumers, whether because of a failure to use a written contract, abandonment or refusal to complete work, poor workmanship and non compliance with building code requirements |
Contractors: Making Contracts |
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When it's
time to sign on the dotted line, most
Home Contractors
will present you with a boilerplate agreement based on one created
by the some Institute of Architects. It lays out the job's details,
including its scope, materials used and, of course, a payment
schedule. Some
Home Contractors
will set up a payment schedule that lets your money get ahead of the
work. "When [a
Home
Contractor] has received 50% of the money for 25% of the work,
that's when he stops showing up as often. |
Contractors: Qualify the contractor |
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1. What is the
contractor's street address? Avoid contractors with only a post office box. If the contractor has an office stop in and visit. Shady contractors can close/setup a new office every 2 or 3 months. Avoid contractors who use telemarketing techniques to contact you. Often, they charge 100% above industry standard prices. 2. How long has the contractor been in business? Do not confuse this question with how long a contractor has been a tradesman. An individual may have been a painter for 20 years, but have been in business for one month. 3. Does the contractor have the resources to complete the job as scheduled? While you cannot expect the contractor to share his financial information with you, use your discretion to determine if you believe he can complete your job as schedule. Ask him. 4. Does the contractor have licenses and insurance? Satisfactory answer to this question can have you avoid problems in the future. If your contractor is not properly licensed, your local inspections department may require the work be re-done by a licensed contractor at your expense. 5. Can the contractor provide you a list of references? You will want to see a list of satisfied customers with, at minimum, telephone numbers. Make calling his references a major priority. Satisfied customers are probably the most important thing to consider when qualifying a contractor. Don't just get the references. CHECK THEM! |
Contractors: Dealing with the contractor |
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1. Does the
contractor appear to be knowledgeable? Ask your contractors questions about your project. Be sure the answers are to your satisfaction. 2. Does the contractor appear to have a genuine concern for your needs? Voice your concerns. He should be willing to accommodate you. This is especially true when it comes to scheduling. Some jobs may require that you not occupy your home while work is in progress. 3. Can you communicate effectively with the contractor? You should be able to speak comfortably and frank with your contractor. This is important to avoid conflicts and confrontations as the job progresses. Be sure you understand the difference between a proposed quote and a proposed estimate. |
Contractors: About the work |
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-Will the
contractor obtain the required
permits? Have the contractor acquire any permits required to finish the job. This causes him to be financially responsible for any work that fail to meet the minimum code in your area. - Will the contractor guarantee all materials and workmanship? Some materials carry its own warranty. Make sure the contractor pass the warranty on to you. Be sure the contract states any warranties provided by the contractor against defects in workmanship. Additionally the warranties should expressly state the period of time covered. For example, a new roof might carry a 5 year workmanship guarantee against leaks, offered by the contractor, while the shingles carry a 25 year guarantee, offered by the manufacturer. - What happens if you change your mind? You should know what happens if you change your mind at any point during the performance of your contract. If work has begun the contractor should execute a written change order stating a description of the changes and the associated cost. - Will the work follow a schedule? Larger jobs may require scheduling of certain task. It would be futile to replace a ceiling before fixing a leaking roof. Make sure the contract follows a logical task schedule. The contract should also state a start and finish date of the service of the Contractor.. - Who cleans up after the job is finished? It is important to understand what role in the work, if any, you are agreeing to. If the contractor agrees to clean up during, or after, the work the contract should state so. It should also state the extent of cleaning to be done. (i.e. job to be left in broom clean condition) - What is the exact schedule of payments to be made. Your written contract should spell out the exact schedule of payment to be made to the Contractor. A contractual draw (payment) schedule is usually based on a percentage of work done. As a rule, it's a good idea to keep the percentage of work completed ahead of the payments made for the work completed. Any changes to the payment schedule should be made only after a written change order has been agreed upon and executed between you and the Contractor.. |
Contractors: How To Avoid Problems With Contractors |
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While most contractors are good people, they aren't always good at planning out and executing a renovation job efficiently. Common contractor troubles include poor workmanship, unfulfilled promises and deliveries, missed deadlines, and spending beyond the budget. Contractors say that it's difficult to please many homeowners because they're never satisfied with the finished product. Homeowners say contractors promise to come back and finish punch list items but rarely do. To
protect yourself, you need a written contract with your
contractor. You can find a sample contract
from the American Institute of Architects (www.aia.org). Be sure you
show the contract to a real estate attorney before you sign it. While
the AIA form contract is a good starting point for negotiation, your
contract should reflect the details of your own project, including the
starting and completion dates. And, don't give the
contractor the final check until you're completely satisfied.
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Contractors: Tips for Hiring a Contractor |
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1. Hire only
licensed
contractors. Verify the
contractor's license number by calling the Board at 225-765-2301 or
by searching the database via this website. 2 Shop around. Get at least three written bids or estimates from the Contractors.. 3 Contact the Better Business Bureau to determine if there are any complaints against contractors under consideration. 4 Get at least three references and contact them to review workmanship. 5 Get a written contract from the contractor and read the fine print. Do not sign until you understand all terms completely. 6 Pay 10 % down or $ 1,000, whichever is less, if a deposit is required to the Contractor. 7 Do not pay for work which has not been completed. Keep records of payments. 8 Do not pay in cash. 9 Final payment should be withheld until work has been completed and deemed acceptable. 10 Obtain warranty information in writing from the contractor. |
Contractors: Can Home Contractors hold your house hostage? |
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The number of Home Improvement projects in the U.S. has risen 25% in the past five years, according to Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. That means Home Contractors are busier than ever — and because they're juggling so much work, you can pretty much expect that the schedule for completing your job will go out the window. |
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