Before you sign…
…know who you’re getting into!

“About 70% of our customers have personally experienced or know someone who has experienced a bad contractor!”

…follow these words of advice:

No matter whom you invest in, do your due diligence.

• Check for a California State License. www.cslb.ca.gov
• Check for up to date bonding and insurance.
• Contact your local Better Business Bureau chapter. www.sandiego.bbb.org
• Research type and quality of materials & installation methods.

Communication: Hire a general contractor who you can communicate with, both openly and without hesitation; most importantly someone you trust who understands your needs. Take note of his or her personality, likeness and ability to work. Choose your Contractor as carefully as you would a business partner--for the next few months that will be their role in your life. Pay attention to your instincts.

Make sure that each contractor is bidding on the same design, with the same grade and type of materials, as well as providing the same degree of craftsmanship and Customer Service.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions:
• How long have you been in business?
• Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
• Who will be working on the project?
• What is your approach to a project such as this?
• How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?
• May I have a list of business referrals or suppliers?
• What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?
• Are you a member of a national trade association?
• Ask if they have design services available.

Ask for references! “Allow my past customers to sell my work.” The most accurate indicator for future performance would by far be a past history. Ask each reference the questions that matter most to you, such as:
How did the Contractor respond when he was asked to make changes? Were the changes documented and fairly charged?

• How good was the Contractor's choice of building specifications, e.g., stairs, decks? Did the Contractor change the spec from what was agreed to or expected?
• How good was the Contractor's workmanship? Did he completely take care of all of the little details?
• Did the Contractor meet his deadlines?
• Were there any surprises of any sort?
• How was the workmanship of the Contractor's subcontractors? Were they on time? Did they follow-up on problems? Did they work in a safe and efficient manner? Did the Contractor supervise his subcontractors sufficiently?
• Did the Contractor have any payment problems with suppliers or subcontractors?
• How well did the Contractor clean-up the house and get rid of all of the trash when he was done?
• How well has the Contractor honored his warranty?
• How well did the Contractor manage stress (stress is inherent to the job)?
• How well did the Contractor handle disagreements (disagreements sometimes happen)?
• How available was the Contractor during the days? During the evenings?
• Check out some of the Contractor's work.

Hire a professional contractor who is familiar with the building codes in your area.

Contracts: Reputable contractors will encourage the use of a written contract. All contracts should include:

• The quality of all materials.
• Start and completion dates: Everyone wants the project to start immediately and finish just after. This is important, but not most important. Remember that quality takes time. My advice: Double your expectations of a perfect scenario to prevent disappointment. From that point, when the job is finished early, you’ll be most satisfied.
• The total cost of all materials and labor or “contracted price.”
• A payment schedule.
• The length and coverage of the warranty period for both materials and workmanship.

Change orders: Realize that work not addressed in the original contract will be assessed as a “change order.” Change orders typically occur in a remodel or building project and make up an average 10-15% increase in the project’s budget. Any changes in information, options or work which deviate from the “scope of work” in the original contract should be addressed in the format of a “change order” and referred as an addition to the original contract. Our projects see an average of three change orders, but can possibly be in excess of 100 on large projects.

Budget: You’ll often experience the domino effect in remodeling. You’ll see the newness and changes taking effect in your project and realize that unaffected areas are in need of updating or just simply changed. If you decide that your budget is fixed with a specific reserve fund, tell your contractor to work within those figures. A little more money on faucets or an upgrade in molding is no problem, but remembers that this can become contagious.

Avoid contractors at all costs when:

• You can't verify the name, address, telephone number or credentials of the contractor.
• No references are furnished.
• Information you receive from the contractor is out-of-date or no longer valid.
• You are unable to verify the license or insurance information.
• You are asked to pay for the entire job in advance, or to pay in cash to a salesperson instead of by check or money order to the company itself.
• The company cannot be found in the telephone book, is not listed with the local Better Business Bureau, or with a local trade association.
• The contractor does not offer, inform or extend notice of your right to cancel the contract within three days. Notification in writing of your Right of Recision is required by law. This grace period allows you to change your mind and declare the contract null and void without penalty (if the agreement was solicited at some place other than the contractor's place of business or appropriate trade premises-in your home, for instance.)
  In addition, be cautious when:
• You are given vague or reluctant answers.
• The contractor exhibits poor communication skills or descriptive powers.
• The contractor is not accessible.
• Your questions are not answered to your satisfaction.
• The contractor is impatient and does not listen.
• Only the work is addressed, instead of your needs as the homeowner.
• There is no presentation book of previous projects presented.

In Closing

Unlike your accountant or stockbroker, your contractor will be a part of your daily life and available for some on-the-job education. He or she will be privy to your personal life, more so than your doctor or lawyer. Your contractor will know how you look early in the morning and how well behaved your dog is. It makes sense that you should take some time to carefully select this person and make sure that it is someone you can ask questions of.

Remodeling can be a fun experience. You get to create your dream room or home and learn a little about design and building along the way. All you need to do is ask questions.

Good contractors are very eager for your business. They are also very proud of their craftsmanship. Once you have made your selection, step back and give the professional room to execute the project. You have both done your homework, so give the professional the opportunity to meet and exceed your expectations. Remember, as with anything else in life, you get what you pay for. If you want high quality and reliable service, be willing to pay the price that comes with it.