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Ten "Tells" to Trouble When Securing a Home Improvement Contractor
Tue 21 Apr 2009 - 16:05
Ten "Tells" to Trouble When Securing a Home Improvement Contractor
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Clayton_Mekelburg]Clayton Mekelburg
In the game of poker, a "tell" is an unintentional give-away by an opponent. Maybe the player always scratches her ear when she has a good hand, or maybe he looks at his hole cards three times before betting, indicating a lack of confidence - perhaps.
"Tells" are not guarantees, but they are indications and signals, so here are my favorite ten home improvement tells to help you sort the good from the bad.
1. Look at the contractors truck:
When I hire a contractor, this is the first thing I check. A truck that's clean and orderly indicates someone who cares about the impression he makes on others. On the other hand, if the truck is cluttered, dirty and leaking oil, it "tells" you something about the character of that contractor, and who would you rather have paint your house?
2. Look at the contractors business card:
Doesn't have one? The first thing people do after going into business is get their business cards printed up. Maybe this guy doesn't want you to contact him after the work is done. Check for a local address and telephone number. Forget the 800 number answered in Taiwan. You want to be able to reach the boss when problems arise.
3. Look at the contractor:
True story. I have a friend back east who was having a termite problem. So he called one of these big franchises (you would know the name) and signed up for a years worth of service. Well, when the service tech showed up, my friend almost keeled over. First, the man was extremely overweight. He was also limping badly from an earlier injury.
Now, this is someone who is going to be climbing around the attic, up and down narrow stairs and going into dark corners where termites lived. The guy was a walking lawsuit waiting to happen! Is the contractor presentable? Maybe not spotless after a hard day at work, but does he look put together? Would you want him hanging from a ladder or walking across your steep roof? Remember, even if the contractor carries insurance, you may still find yourself in the middle of a lawsuit if someone is seriously injured. In this litigious society, they sue everybody involved.
4. The Missed Appointment:
If the contractor sets a time to meet with you, but doesn't show up or even call, well, how easy do you think it' will be to track down this guy when there is a problem with your home improvement project. dump him.
5. The High Pressure Approach:
This is a real tell. The contractor or rep really puts the pressure on to sign a contract. The fact is, really good contractors don't have to pressure you. They don't need your work. They're booked months in advance. There is no deal you can't walk away from. Never give in to the high-pressure sales pitch. Chances are, you'll get hurt.
6. No Contract:
"Oh, we don't need a contract for a small job like this." Does that sound like something a responsible business person would say? A contract protects both parties, so any contractor who says you don't need a contract is a contractor you show to the door.
7. An 84-Page Contract With 83 Pages of Fine Print:
This is just as bad as the "no contract" guy. You don't need a lengthy contract. What work will be done? When will the contractor be paid? When will the work be completed? What materials will be used? That about covers it.
A contract should be short and sweet. It should also be crystal clear. If you don't know what you're signing, don't sign it until you do - until you really do.
8. Is the contractor ready to discuss your project?
It sounds like an obvious question, but I've heard any number of horror stories. For example, a friend of mine wanted to put in a flagstone patio so he called a couple of rock workers who do this kind of thing. The first contractor drove up, met my friend, shook hands and got down to business. He took measurements, performed calculations and left an estimate with the buyer - a rather high estimate, or so my friend thought.
The second contractors estimate was $1200 lower, so easy choice right? Wrong! The second contractor showed up and asked my friend if he could borrow a tape measure! Are you kidding me? This landscaping contractor shows up to price a job and wants to borrow a tape measure? But wait. He also asked to borrow a pen and a piece of paper to record the measurements. Then, it took him a week to get back with an estimate.
Even though the first contractor had the higher bid, my friend paid the extra and now has a great looking patio where our families can watch the sunsets. It's this kind of little thing that tells a whole lot.
9. Is the contractor professional in demeanor?
No, you're not going to marry the guy, but does he conduct himself as a professional? Here's a story I picked up from one of my customers.
This lady needed a new roof. An easy, simple job. She called a few contractors. The ones who did not return her calls were dumped immediately. But two did call back. The first roofer showed up an hour late with his 3-year-old and his very friendly Golden Retriever. The man was so concerned about his child and his dog, the woman was certain he did not get the job specs right. The second contractor showed up in a new pick-up. He also came with a clipboard to take careful notes. He offered some suggestions, brought samples for color choice and tried his best to work within the woman and her vacation schedule. Guess who got the job.
No, you are not going to marry the contractor, but you are going to be partners, at least for the duration of this project. Picking a contractor is a lot like picking a partner. Choose well; snooze well.
10. Follow your instincts:
You know when something just doesn't feel right? You can't put your finger on it, but if your instincts tell you something is out of whack. Trust those feelings. There are dozens (if not more) contractors in your area. If something bothers you, even if you can't quite describe it to yourself or put it into words so your spouse will understand, go with your gut. I've found, when selecting trades people for work on my own home, that my instincts are almost always right. Yours should be too.
This article was written by Clayton Mekelburg http://www.homeimprovementbuyer.com which provides Internet-based information offering homeowners insights on how to prevent home improvement scams and fraud. He is the author of the eBook A Thief On Your Doorstep.
Expert on home improvement products and services with over 15 years in the home improvement business and more than 40 years in marketing sales of new products and services. Please visit his site http://www.homeimprovementbuyer.com and get your free copy of the Home Owners Library
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clayton_Mekelburg http://EzineArticles.com/?Ten-Tells-to-Trouble-When-Securing-a-Home-Improvement-Contractor&id=2167963
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