Posted on: May 29, 2008
Contractor 101
Get to know your contractor – what to ask, what to avoid
By Jeff Schnaufer
CTW Features
With tax rebate checks on the horizon, if not already pocketed, some homeowners may be thinking about putting that money into remodeling their kitchens, adding an extra room or finally mending that leaky roof. But that money can just as easily slip away if you hire the wrong contractor.
"The No. 1 complaint [in terms of] home improvement is that the contractor walks away and takes their money," says Janet Ahmad, president of HomeOwners for Better Building. Each month, as many as 150 such complaints come across Ahmad's desk in San Antonio, the headquarters of the non-profit group that also has chapters in Kentucky, Florida, the Carolinas, Georgia and New Jersey.
With so much at stake, finding the right contractor can raise a number of questions for a homeowner. Greg Miedema, vice chairman of remodelers for the National Association of Home Builders, Therese Crahan, executive director of NAHB remodelers, and Ahmad weigh in the discussion.
HSW: Should an attorney look over the contract before work starts?
Ahmad: Yes – you're going to eliminate a lot of contractors by hiring an attorney.
Miedema: I'm not sure of the benefit of having an attorney looking at it, if you’re working with a professional remodeler. On the other hand, a professional remodeler shouldn’t object because they know the contract is in good order.
HSW: Who should take out the building permit?
Ahmad: Never allow the contractor to talk you into taking out the building permit. It's a very common practice for those who are fly-by-night contractors. If something goes wrong, or they walk off, the homeowner is held responsible.
Miedema: It depends on level of involvement of homeowner. But whoever submits the plan has the obligation to correct the plans as needed as result of the building department's comments.
HSW: What kind of references should you ask for from a contractor?
Miedema: Besides doing a reference check, check the Better Business Bureau and local licensing agency or regulatory body. Also ask the remodeler for his subcontractor's names. And another good source is the contractor’s vendors, such as the lumber yard. Also be sure to do your gut check. Do you want that person in your house five or six months?
Ahmad: For any complaints, I would check with the local authorities that issue permits. Or go to the courthouse for complaints that have been filed.
HSW: Should the contractor be bonded?
Ahmad: If they are not bonded, don't do business with them. They should provide proof that they are bonded and that homeowner will collect on the bond if they fail to complete their job.
Crahan: Yes, but what the homeowner has to understand is what they are being bonded for.
