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Tips for Home Improvement & Remodeling

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It is spring, a time when many people’s fancies turn to home improvement! Whether you are planning a small repair project, like repaving your driveway, or a more extensive project, like adding a family room to your home, it pays to look beyond the lowest bid when selecting a contractor.

Right from the start, you can eliminate what are likely to be less-than-reputable contractors by considering a list of traits common to rip-off artists. Both the Fed-eral Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau have found the following to be indication that a contractor may not be interested in satisfying customers:

Solicits door-to-door:• Be suspicious of contractors who attempt to gain business by visiting door-to-door.Offersdeepdiscountsforfindingothercustomers:• Good contractors rely on referrals from satisfied customers or word-of-mouth advertising for a large percentage of their customer base. Their work does all the talking!Has materials left over from a previous job:• It is not your lucky day when a contractor shows up on your door step offering a cut-rate price on a project because they have materials left over from a recent job in your neighborhood. This is a common ploy of fly-by-night operators or handymen who are based out-of-state and use their pick-up trucks as their place of business. Asks you to get the required building permits:• This could be a sign that he is not licensed or registered, as required by your state or locality. Does not list a business phone number in the local directory: • This can be a red flag indicating the contractor does not have an established business presence in state. Or, that he perhaps relies on a home answering machine to screen customer calls. Pressures you for an immediate decision:• A reputable professional will recognize that you need time to consider many factors when deciding which contractor to hire. You will want to check references; look into the contractor’s standard of work and his professional designations and affiliations; verify his insurance; check to see if he needs a license (and if so, that it is valid); get written estimates from several firms based on identical project specifications, and, contact the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) and local con-sumer protection agency to see if they have any information. Asks you to pay for the entire job up-front or demands only cash: • Whatever the reason, never pay for the entire project upfront. Payments should be by credit card or check so you can retain proof of payment, if needed. Do not make the final payment or sign an affidavit of final release un-til you are satisfied with the work and have proof that the subcontractors and suppliers have been paid. Suggests you borrow from a particular lender:• Do not agree to financ-ing through your contractor or someone he suggests. Many people have been taken advantage of when they agreed to use the suggested lender; sign a lot of papers in a rush; and find out later they had agreed to a home equity loan with a very high rate, points and fees. Secure financing on your own by shop-ping around and comparing loan terms.

Tip-offs to Potential Rip-Offs

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pany’s business practices and experience in a similar type of project. If you decide you want to hire a particular contrac-tor, then you can discuss when he or she can start, what time he or she can knock on your door each morning and when you will have your home to yourselves again. These are all items that can be discussed at a pre-remodeling meeting.

Here are some of the questions NARI recommends you ask before signing a remodeling contract:

1) How long have you been in business? 2) Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job? 3) Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors?4) What is your approach to a project such as this?5) How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?6) May I have a list of business referrals or suppliers?7) What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?8) Are you a member of a national trade association? 9) Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance? A homeowner should always verify this information by calling the insurance agency. A copy of an insurance certificate does not let you know if the policy is still current even if the certificate has an expiration date. The insurance policy may have been canceled by either party. 10) A homeowner should also ask if their contractor is li-censed and call to verify compliance with the law. 11) Have you or your employees been certified in remodel-ing or had any special training or education, such as earn-ing a Certified Remodeler (CR), Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler (CKBR), Certified Remodeler Specialist (CRS) or Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC) or Certified Kitchen & Bath Remodeler (CKBR) designations?

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The National Association of the Remodeling Industry, (NARI) The Voice of the Remodeling IndustryTM, shares a short list of questions asked by homeowners during a remodeling project, as well as the questions many homeowners forget to ask.

You would think that launching an entire remodeling project would spark a truckload of questions from wary homeowners who have heard the horror stories surrounding the world of remodeling. Surprisingly, though, contractor members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry(NARI) admit they aren’t asked enough questions.

“Timing and money are the most common questions we hear,” says NARI President Mark Brick, CR, CGR, and president of B & E General Contractors in Glendale, Wisc. “During an interview with a homeowner, homeowners should be asking about credentials and verifying business practices, rather than: When can you start? When will it be finished? and How much will it cost?”

These few questions simply aren’t enough. If a homeowner wishes to have a successful remodeling project, they should learn the right questions to ask and how to ask them.

Other popular queries homeowners pose are: What time will you knock on my door each morning? What time will you quit for the day? Are you going to work everyday? Can you finish before (insert any major holiday or significant family event)? and How much will it cost per square foot?

While these questions are important, they shouldn’t be the primary focus for choosing a professional remodeler.

A reasonable timetable is important, says Brick, but it shouldn’t be the primary focus of an interview or a job, and neither should budget. Homeowners should focus on trust and quality. If you find someone who is reputable and trustworthy, the budget and time line will fall into place.

Homeowners should start by asking questions about a com-

Are You Asking Your Contractor the Right Questions

Source: NARI, National Association of the Remodeling Industry