Choosing a Home Improvement Contractor
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-03-24 10:30:12.597343-05:00
People of all ages spend billions of dollars each year on home improvements. While some people enjoy doing the work themselves, others prefer to hire someone to do the work. If you’re the type to hire someone, picking the right contractor is a key decision.
It might seem convenient simply to hire the person who shows up at your front door saying, "I was just in the neighborhood and noticed your roof needs some repairs." What a mistake that can be! This is rarely the right choice. Beware of anyone who comes to your door uninvited, offering to inspect your chimney, test your water, check trees or driveway free of charge. Or someone who wants to sell you a security system “because of burglaries in your area.” Or who shows up just before the heating season starts and wants to inspect your plumbing or furnace.
These kinds of sales approaches are standard practice for scam artists, who prey particularly on older people, and, especially, on women who live alone. Don’t let them in your house and don’t do any business with them! The home improvement salesperson who has “just enough shingles” left over to do your roof from another job in the neighborhood will most likely take your money and disappear, or do such a sloppy job you will wish he or she had never appeared.
Define the Job.
Before selecting anyone to do work in your home, carefully evaluate what you want done. List exactly what you want a contractor to do. Taking your time at the start of a project increases the odds that you will be satisfied with the contractor’s work.
Perhaps you decide to redecorate a faded living room. You’ll want the contractor to remove the old wallpaper and dispose of it, prepare the walls for painting, and order your new wallpaper before actually hanging the wallpaper. You also will want to find out as much as you can about differences in the types, qualities of the materials you want used. You can do this by visiting wallpaper and paint stores. The more you know in advance about the materials involved in your project and their prices, the better prepared you are to choose a contractor.
Get recommendations
To create a list of contractors, talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about their experiences with contractors. Were they satisfied with the work, the price, and the time it took to get the job done? Ask local stores about workers they respect. Or ask a painter whose work you liked to steer you to a good plumber.
Check out the recommendations
Once you have your list of names, check them out. Call the local or state licensing board to see if they are licensed or registered in your state. You can find the phone number in the government “blue pages.” Remember that not all states require licenses. While licensing doesn’t guarantee reliability, it’s a minimum qualification you should expect a contractor to have.
AARP also encourages consumers to engage the services of contractors known as Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (a certification through the National Association of Home Builders), who are specially trained in:
- The unique needs of older people;
- Home modifications that can help people continue living independently in their homes longer;
- Common remodeling projects;
- Solutions to common barriers.
CAPS certification can't guarantee that a consumer won't have problems with a contractor, of course, but the fact that a contractor would seek certification speaks well of his/her desire to give clients personal service.
Contact your local Better Business Bureau and state consumer protection office to find out if any complaints have been filed against the contractor or their companies.
Make comparisons
Call the contractors you have checked out. Find out if they do the type of work you want. Ask if they can finish the work in your time frame and how long they have been in business. Get copies of proof that they are licensed, bonded, and covered by workers’ compensation and liability insurance.
Make sure to get references of satisfied customers and check them out. For bigger projects such as putting on an addition to your house, go to a job site to see the workers on the job. It’s also smart to get references from banks, suppliers, and subcontractors to make sure the prospective contractors are financially reliable.
Zero in
Next, narrow your list down to three contractors. Have a face-to-face meeting with these contractors to talk about your job, your specifications, and your budget. You and the contractor need to have a clear understanding of the work to be done. You also want to feel comfortable dealing with the people who will work in your home. Get written estimates that give detailed specifications of the materials to be used, the labor charges, and the start and finishing dates.
Lowest may not be best
Now, take time to compare the estimates carefully. The lowest price tag may not be your best choice. If you find there is a wide range between the bids, ask the contractors for an explanation. Is something missing? Are the material specifications different? The low bidder may be taking shortcuts on quality.
Before signing
Don’t be rushed into signing quickly. Take your time to make a decision and get a second opinion before you sign anything. Any genuine good deal will still be there tomorrow.
AARP Resources
Home Improvement Contracts
AARP’s advice on what needs to be included in your home improvement contract.
Universal Design
Tips and examples on how to fix up your home to make it meet your needs for all your lifetime.
Additional Resources
Better Business Bureau
For some areas of the country, you can search the Better Business Bureau to see the complaint history of home improvement contractors. By entering a business name, telephone number, or ZIP code, you can find out what reports have been filed on businesses you might use.
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
More tips on avoiding slick contractors and how to report the fraud if the mails are used in any way.
Consumer Complaints
Get a complete listing of all the consumer protection agencies to check on complaints filed against contractors.
Books
Find this book online at Barnes & Noble.com.
Bob Vila's Complete Guide to Remodeling Your Home
Bob Vila, Hugh Howard, HarperCollins Publishers, March 2002
Remodeling is all about making the right decisions—from determining what you want and need to hiring and working with the contractors who will help you realize your vision. This book takes you step-by-step through the renovation process from beginning to end.
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