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Do You Know How to See If a General Contractor is on the Level?
Thu 19 Mar 2009 - 08:04
Do You Know How to See If a General Contractor is on the Level?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jason_Rossi]Jason Rossi
Here is a checklist to ensure your contractor is the best for making your project a success.
1. Are they properly licensed?
2. Have they filed bankruptcy?
3. Are there outstanding liens or judgments against them?
4. Do they request payment in full before work is performed?
5. Do they look professional?
6. Has their previous work been completed on time and within budget?
These 6 points might seem obvious to some but are often the most missed items when considering who to hire for your construction project. These key points also tend to lead to significant problems both legally and financially on construction projects.
It is unfortunate but true that there are some unscrupulous construction companies out there who are only looking to better themselves at the cost of the client. It is with this issue that this list has been designed to assist individual homeowners and businesses in picking the right general contractor to work with.
All general contractors and construction companies should be properly licensed to perform the work they are soliciting. Always ask for copies of county, city and state licenses prior to signing any contract. It is also advisable to have a paragraph in the contract stating the contractor's responsibility to provide you with copies of their licenses and insurance.
Bankruptcy is an important issue to be considered. Has the contractor or company filed for bankruptcy in the past? This information can be researched in some public records depending the state of location. This is also a very important issue to consider. You do not want the contractor walking off with money he has been paid and leaving an incomplete project. It is important to know if the contractor pays sub contractors on time or at all.
Outstanding liens and judgments tell whether or not the contractor fulfills their obligations or if they are being forced to pay or complete obligations. You want to avoid companies and contractors with records reflecting this.
A giant blinking warning sign for anyone should be when your contractor is requesting payment in full before any work has been performed. Stay far away from any organization with this practice.
Do the company and or individual look professional? Are the work vehicles clean and neat are the job sites of present projects orderly. These small signs say great details about the organization and performance skills of the contractor you are interviewing. The more professional looking the more organized they appear to be will all improve the chances your project will turn out as expected.
Completing work on time and on budget is a very important consideration when interviewing contractors. The ability to estimate time and cost effectively will help to save you money as well as save your time. Properly adhering to schedules helps eliminate cost overruns, which can typically wreak havoc on construction projects and individuals.
Most importantly, get references and make sure that you feel comfortable working with the contractor you choose. Good construction companies and general contractors are hard to find.
Jason Rossi, CGC, is a Certified General Contractor, author and advocate who has served the construction industry for over 20-years. He has guided hundreds of professional remodelers through the regulations and work practices of managing remodeling quality. Jason Rossi can be located on the [http://www.jrossiconstruction.com]http://www.jrossiconstruction.com, http://www.advancedpromotingtips.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Rossi http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Know-How-to-See-If-a-General-Contractor-is-on-the-Level?&id=2094154
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