Protect yourself from shady contractors

If you are planning to hire someone to do a remodeling or home improvement project, do you know how to protect yourself from unscrupulous and incompetent contractors? Whether a contractor defrauds the consumer intentionally or through incompetence, the end result is the same. You, the consumer, end up not getting the product or service you paid for.

With home improvements being one of the largest sources of complaints registered with the Better Business Bureau and negative stories about unscrupulous contractors an all-too-prevalent reality, we would like to offer the following advice to help you choose a contractor who can make sure your dream project doesn’t become a nightmare.

• Seek referrals from your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers who have had remodeling work done. Check with your local Spokane Home Builders Association Remodelors Council™ for the names of remodeler members. Membership in the local home builders association indicates a remodeler’s commitment to professionalism, customer service and quality construction. Certification programs through the National Association of Home Builders, such as the Certified Graduate Remodelor (CGR) and the CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist), further help consumers to identify the top individuals and companies.

• Investigate the reputation and experience of the company by asking for references. Oftentimes, companies will simply start over under a new name once they have complaints or lawsuits, so if they have only been in business a short period of time, find out what they did previously and check all references. Make sure that they have successfully completed projects similar to what you are requesting them to do. Just because they completed a beautiful bathroom remodel for someone doesn’t mean they are capable of handling your second story addition.

• Check with the Department of Labor & Industries to verify that the contractor is registered, as required by the State of Washington, and that they have a clean record. Visit www.wa.gov/lni/contractors to easily verify registration status, and to determine if any claims have been filed against the contractor.

• Check with the Better Business Bureau to find out if any complaints have been filed against the company or individual which are unresolved.

• Don’t compare applies to oranges. When evaluating bids from contractors, make sure they are based on identical project specifications.

• Request copies of insurance certificates to verify that he or she carries workers’ compensation and contractor’s liability insurance that protects you from claims arising from property damage or job site injuries.

• Be wary of a contractor who asks for a full payment before the job has begun. A payment schedule should be part of your written agreement and may be tied to benchmarks such as starting or completing various phases of the job.

• Make sure your contractor pulls all required permits and follows through with inspections. When this is done, you will have the inspectors making sure things are done to code. Also some homeowner insurance policies require pulling a permit on any major remodeling to keep your home properly covered.

• Don’t base your decision on price alone. The old axioms, “You get what you pay for” and “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is” both ring true. The lure of an incredibly low price will usually lead to disappointment. Consumers need to realize that professional quality work is not cheap. Many factors other than price need to be considered.

• Don’t be in a hurry and trust your intuition. You should never feel pressured into making a decision about which contractor you will use. If you ever feel that a contractor or salesperson is pressuring you, let them know you are not about to make a hasty decision and are not comfortable being pressured. High pressure usually leads to bad decisions. Avoid contractors who go door to door, saying they “just happened to be in your neighborhood” or who offer you a discounted price that is “good for today only” or who says your home will be used for a model or that you will receive an “advertising discount.” These are almost always scams. If your gut feeling is that something is not right, then trust those feelings.

Ethical, professional remodeling contractors are as anxious to rid the home improvement industry of the “bad apples” as the consumers are. Educating the consumer on the remodeling process as well as educating the remodeling contractors on how best to serve the consumer are both important factors in improving the home improvement industry. Stricter regulations for remodeling contractors, such as mandatory insurance, more stringent registration requirements and continuing education requirements will help rid the home improvement industry of the unethical and/or incompetent bad apples and make it a better world for both consumers and contractors.

If a remodeling project is on the horizon for you, please call upon the professionals at the Spokane Home Builders Association at 509-532-5990.