BEWARE OF THE UNSCRUPULOUS CONTRACTOR If a contractor asks for money up front, let the alarm bells ring. Ask him why he needs money up front. If he says he needs it to purchase material you have to wonder why he can’t get credit. If his vendors won’t give him credit there is, more than likely, an underlying issue with his, shall we say, commitment attributes. He probably has bad credit and has stiffed vendors in the past. What makes you think he wouldn’t do the same to you? Always check out the contractor. There are a number of ways you can do this; the Better Business Bureau, case.net, Angie’s List, google his name, ask for recent references, visit previous job sites, where does he advertise, is his equipment marked, etc. An official looking business card does not always have an official business behind it. I believe in paying for services only after they’re complete. This gives the contractor the incentive to finish the job or he doesn’t get paid. Before paying, inspect the work in the presence of the contractor. Ask questions, particularly if you don’t understand something. If the contractor did something outside the scope of your agreement, make it an issue and do not pay until rectified to your satisfaction. Before issuing payment, be sure to get a lien waiver from the contractor, no exceptions. No lien waiver…..no payment. Never pay with cash. Always pay with a check or credit card. This gives you leverage in the event you discover something not right after the contractor is finished. Be sure to educate elderly friends and relatives about unscrupulous contractors. They prey on elderly people, particularly widows. This absolutely infuriates me. I lost count of the horror stories where “the guy in the pick up truck” stopped by because he noticed a shingle in the yard or had a little extra asphalt from a job up the street and ended up “appearing” to do work for hundreds of dollars. Take your time vetting contractors, be diligent and trust no one.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:37:48 +0000
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