The story goes like this:
You have a home improvement project. The contractor comes over, impresses you with his skill and experience, and you give him the job. Now here’s the catch, many times this will be the last time you will see the contractor. What frequently happens next is that an 18 year old comes over, maybe a few months out of high school and does the work. The contractor sends you a bill or comes to collect and thats it.
The 18 year old may be perfectly competent and may have done a good job, and then again, maybe not. So, what can you do to protect yourself? There are several things you can do:
- When agreeing on a project with a contractor, ask point blank who’s going to do the work. If its an employee, make sure there is a thorough inspection included by a foreman or the business owner. The contractor may say something like “He’s a real good guy, I trust his work”. Don’t fall for it, insist on an inspection.
- Never pay 100% upfront. For smaller projects pay 50% upfront and 50% at the end when everything is done to your satisfaction. For larger projects break up payments so that they coincide with milestones. Again don’t release the last payment until an inspection by a foreman or the business owner.
- Get a permit and have a city inspector inspect the work. This will cost more and take more time and the contractor may resist it, but if you do not feel comfortable with your judgement of the quality of the work, this is the best way to go.
By insisting on a quality job up-front, you increase your chances of a successful project.