The average person can handle himself well in unfamiliar situations. You nod along when the doctor gives details of your upcoming gallbladder surgery when the truth of the matter is, you have no idea where your gallbladder even is. But, the reason you feel so confident with just nodding along is because you trust that once your physician makes the first incision, everything will go smoothly.
It is important to establish a similar level of trust with anyone you let into your home to do construction because you want to believe that he’s doing the best work possible with your best interests in mind. Unfortunately, some companies and contractors have designed complex schemes to steal your time and money by only completing half the job. Bryan Sebring, owner of the interior design firm Sebring Services in Illinois, cites some red flags to be on the lookout for about your contractor.
Doesn’t have insurance, or their insurance has lapsed. You probably won’t be presented with insurance information upfront, but a contractor should be able to produce the information upon request. Any reputable contractor will have insurance coverage to ensure that his employees and their work is adequately covered. If they don’t, and someone gets hurt on your property, you could be held responsible.
Is hesitant to revise the contract before it is signed. A contract is an agreement between you and your contractor, not a nonnegotiable set of guidelines that your contractor establishes for you, like some contractors would like to have you believe. If a clause is in the contract that you are uncomfortable with, then address it immediately. You should never feel pressured into signing your name to any document.
Gives you an estimate that is much lower than other contractors. There is probably a bad reason why the offer is so low. Chances are they are planning on not following safety codes, are using unsafe equipment, or only plan on completing half the job before they leave town. To protect yourself from any possible scams, get as many details about the plan they are offering in writing, and make sure you have copies on file of all contracts and any payments you have made.
Can’t provide you with the names of references. Any confident contractor would be eager to show you his past work, or give you the names of past clients who are willing to boast about his work. If your contractor can’t provide you with any names, you should ask yourself if it is because no past clients would have anything good to say.
Tells you that you don’t need permits. If you don’t obtain the proper permits from your town, then any remodeling done to your home will not be covered by your insurance company. So you can be fined if/when you sell your home and a property inspector realizes you don’t have a permit for the work. If they are lying to you about this, then just think of what else they could be lying about too.
Requests to be paid in cash. It is likely that a contractor who is asking to be paid in cash is not paying taxes, and he probably isn’t paying for insurance either.
Doesn’t ask for your opinion. The best contractors will always ask for your opinion as after all it is your home and your money. Their goal should be to make you satisfied. In fact, Sebring says that he has made it his company’s philosophy that when they are establishing a relationship with a client, they listen to all his requests and concerns before proceeding.
Can’t give you a schedule of when projects will be started and completed. At your request, an experienced contractor should be able to provide you with a list of the days you can expect the remodeling to take place and what is anticipated to be completed or worked on during each day. Understand that the schedule is tentative and subject to change, but it should provide you with a sense of what you can expect.
Uses old, worn out tools. Sebring warns that how a company takes care of its tools, trucks and equipment is a good indicator of how they will take care of your home. That is not to say that everyone has to wear new uniforms and carry laptops and cell phones. But, if tools are broken and it is clear that they aren’t being taken care of, that’s a sign of the type of craftsmanship you can expect.
Doesn’t have an office. Even if their office is simply a spare room in their home, every contractor should be able to provide you with an address of their business, and it should be included in the contract as well. If all you receive is a telephone number or post office box, then you should contact the Better Business Bureau to see if they are an accredited business and if any complaints have been filed against them.
Sebring warns that only 25% of the process of choosing a contractor should be about money. The other 75% should be based on your relationship with the contractor.
