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Depending
on the size and complexity of your project, you may choose to work
with a number of different professionals:
Construction Contractors manage all aspects of your project,
including hiring and supervising subcontractors, getting building
permits, and scheduling inspections. They also work with architects
and designers.
Speciality
Construction
Contractors install particular products, such as cabinets and
bathroom fixtures.
Architects
design homes, additions, and major renovations. If your project
includes structural changes, you may want to hire an architect who
specializes in
home
construction.
Designers
have expertise in specific areas of the home, such as kitchens and
baths.
Design/Construction
Contractors provide one-stop service. They see your project
through from start to finish. Some firms have architects on staff;
others use certified designers.
Construction Contractors / Handymen / Home Repair Workers is one
way you can protect yourself from unlicensed Home
Construction Contractors.
Each year unlicensed Home
Construction Contractors
cause major headaches
for homeowners and state and local investigators. If the Home
Construction
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
Construction 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
Construction Contractors, Background Check Reports
provide you with.
Credentials of the
Construction Contractor
Status of his License.
Status of his Insurance.
Liens, Judgements and Bankruptcies Check
Any complaints filed against the
Construction 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),
Construction Contractors
garnered the second highest number of consumer complaints. Dealings
with Home
Construction 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
When it's time to sign on the dotted line, most
Construction 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
Construction 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.
Unless you have X-ray vision or the time to spend entire workdays
watching your
Construction Contractors in action, all you
may ever know about your job is whether it looks good. The popular
way that
Construction contractors can cut corners without
your knowing it include skimping on insulation, but packing it in
with care so that it looks filled in; leaving out plumbing lines
and pumps that give you hot water fast; and using lower-quality
wood, but laying it beautifully so that you don't notice. "In
situations where homeowners aren't likely to ask what's going on,
Construction
Contractor use subpar materials." Or just
do a subpar job. Mark Herr (a customer) recounts the tale of a family
that wanted their kitchen redone in time for Easter. One night before
the holiday, a Home
Construction
Contractor was sweating to install the garbage
disposal. When asked why the job was giving him so much trouble,
the worker replied, "When they showed me this morning at Home
Depot, I thought I understood."
Can
Construction Contractors hold your house hostage?
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
Construction
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.
Tips
For Selecting A
construction
Contractor:
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Spend
time thinking about the specific design and materials you want.
You should clearly describe the work you want done in a
specification sheet and floor plan for potential contractors.
When all
construction contractors who bid on a job work from the same
design description, there is more likely to be a complete and
accurate bidding process.
-
Obtain
recommendations from consumers who have had similar work done
on their homes, or from professional trade associations.
-
Interview
at least three contractors and request a written, detailed
estimate. Ask for explanations for price variations. Don’t automatically
choose the lowest bidder.
-
Hire
only registered or registered and licensed contractors. Check
with the Board of Building Regulations and Standards to make sure
that the
construction contractor or subcontractor you hire
is currently registered with the state, and has an appropriate
license, if necessary.
-
Confirm
three references for each
construction contractor . Ask the
construction contractor for a written list of his/her
three most recent projects with names, telephone numbers and addresses
of the owners. Contact the other homeowners who have hired the
contractor and find out if they have had any problems.
-
Check
the
construction contractor's complaint history with
the Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau.
You can contact Consumer Affairs to find out if there have been
arbitration cases or Guaranty Fund cases filed against the
construction contractor . The Board of Building Regulations
and Standards tracks disciplinary actions against registered
construction contractors.
-
Ensure
that the
construction contractor has adequate personal liability,
property damage and worker’s compensation
insurance. Ask to see a copy of the certificates of insurance
and verify that they are current. Otherwise, you may be liable
for any injuries and damages that occur during the project.
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