Protecting Yourself on a Remodeling Project: June 3, 2010
Many of you might not know, but Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating has an install department that can asset you with all of your remodeling needs. We had one customer bring up a good question and wanted to share it with all of our customers to educate you on how to protect yourself on remodeling projects. Please read the story below, and if you have any questions or concerns please give us a call!
Question: We are about to tackle a major remodeling project and it scares me to death. There is so much money involved and I’ve heard so many horror stories about crooked contractors and botched jobs. How do I make sure someone is reputable? How many bids should I seek? Can you please give me some tips to protect myself!! Concerned Customer!
Dear Concerned Customer-
There is a lot of ground to cover, so let’s take it one step at a time:
1) Finding a reputable contractor – Ask anyone you know and trust for recommendations. Don’t even ask anybody to bid on your job until you are convinced of a good reputation.
This begins with asking for the company’s license number and evidence of insurance. Verify that the license is genuine and current by calling the government agency that has jurisdiction. At Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating we offer this information as soon as we speak with the homeowners!
At Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating we can emphasize the insurance angle enough. If you hire an uninsured firm and someone gets injured on the job, you could be held liable, and there is no ceiling to what that could cost you.
Most contractors will supply you with their own references, but even the shadiest operators can recruit friends and relatives to pretend they are satisfied customers, so don’t rely on their reference alone. At Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating we are on the Better Business Bureau, so please check us out!
Also ask prospective remodelers for supplier references, and more than one. Most contractors deal with multiple suppliers. We cant stay in business without a source of supply, so its common practice for someone in trouble to keep paying one supply house while stiffing everyone else. You’re asking for big trouble if you deal with someone who can’t pay their bills. For a list of our suppliers, click here.
2) Number of bidders – You may have heard the old rule of thumb that says you should get three bids, toss out the high and the low, and take the one in the middle.
There is nothing magical about the number three, expect it seems a reasonable number to manage. More than that gets time consuming. As a result, you’d probably end up skimping on the background check and other details.
More important than the number of bidders is to make sure they are all bidding on the same thing. The only way to be sure is to work from detailed drawing of the project you have in mind. There also can be large price variations based upon fixtures, furnishings and materials specified. Everyone must bid on the same specifications or else you are comparing apples to oranges.
At Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating we use Up-Front Pricing, which means you know the price before we do the work. When making an investment decision, people want three things: The highest quality, the best service and the value pricing. Our reputation & history allows us to make these claims and to stand by them. We have yet found a company that provides higher quality, better service at our competitive rates.
3) Tips to protect yourself – First, read the contract carefully. Make sure you understand all the terms and conditions. Pay special attention to payment terms and a timetable for completion. Some give and take might be necessary to negotiate a contract that’s fair to you and the remodeler alike. However, don’t sign any contacts documents until you understand all the terms and ramifications.
- Make sure the remodeling firm has all the required fixtures, appliances, furnishings and materials in its possession before work starts. Otherwise you are vulnerable to potential delivery disruptions’ that can leave your project delayed.
- See that the contractor complies with all permits and notifications required by your local building department.
- Ask the contractor to produce a sworn statement identifying all subcontractors, suppliers and creditors for the project. These people may have lien rights to your property if they don’t get paid for their work, even if you faithfully pay the prime contractor. A line means they can lay claim to a portion of your property equal in value to the amount owed them.
- Be aware that almost ever homeowner underestimates the amount of money a major remodeling project will cost. Budget at least 10% extra for changes you may decide to make in your plans once the project gets underway.
Now relax and call Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating today to get started on your remodeling project. We have many solutions to fit every need and budget, and now we are offering financing! And find out for yourself about our legendary service and quality craftsmanship. Call today to set up an appointment or check us out online at www.grandlakeplumbing.com
