Some of the stories about unscrupulous and unreliable contractors are shocking enough to make us question the very best of humanity. It's all too easy to end up with a half-done apartment, an empty bank account, or even a date in court.
UnMask recommends running a background check on your contractor of choice. You can also just look them up on Google to see if they stiffed anyone in the past. If their performance was less than stellar, maybe someone complained about it. In every event, it pays off to do research. You must be sure you're getting a capable and competent person into your home.
Hire Someone by Recommendation
The best approach is to hire a contractor who someone you personally know and trust recommended. If you don't get a reference from a friend or relative, you can try Craig's List or another service with ratings. Inquire into labor and material costs in your area, so you don't get scammed. Use all the resources available to you.
Run a Background Check
They say checks are a supreme form of trust. In other words, you're almost sure you've got your guy, but you need one last check to seal the deal.
Demand Promptness
Contractors have a reputation for not respecting clients' time. Whether it is warranted or not is a matter of judgment. It's not a sin to be late, but if it's become a habit, you'll soon start to lose money apart from time. Of course, it's hard to know in advance. One clear sign of chronic tardiness is showing up late for the very first meeting. If he didn't bother to call and warn you, his fate is sealed.
Trust Your Intuition
It's your property and your money, so you shouldn't put up with being berated for voicing an opinion about the work. If you tell them you're willing to pay extra for extra work, "did you win the lottery" is not something you should be hearing from him. He clearly isn't interested in performing extra work with or without extra pay. Limit your interaction with him as much as possible. This will help resolve disputes amicably.
Agree up Front
Before the work starts, you need to have a written agreement on an amount. You will probably end up deviating from this amount, but this should be within reasonable limits. Beware of offers that seem too good to be true: they are. Don't accept them just like you wouldn't accept a very high price.
In most states, contractors are allowed to ask for a maximum of a third of the overall price upfront. Experts claim anything over 20% raises a red flag. It takes about 10% to get started.
Don't Share Your Budget
Whatever sum you state, the contractor will find a way to bid at that exact amount, even when the work costs less. It's best to ask for bids broken down by cost of labor and materials. That way, you can compare and make an informed decision. If you can, verify the cost of materials after you've received an offer. Some contractors will upcharge for materials.
Document Everything
The contractor's not fulfilling expectations or the renovation is not going as planned? Document everything in writing and, if possible, video. The most common issue is falling behind schedule. Another one is using inferior materials instead of the ones you asked and possibly already paid for. Once the violations accumulate, finalize your list and send a letter with return receipt to your contractor's address. Inform him that he's in breach of contract unless the problems are rectified within a certain deadline. Threaten to terminate the contract if he doesn't take action.
Speak Up
If something goes wrong, don't hesitate to speak up. Living with incongruous bathroom tiles because you didn't dare speak up will make you angry for a long time.
Fire Him
You've read this far, and none of the above options will work? I guess there's one last one. Know it's not easy to do, though. He might claim you're in breach of contract by firing him. You'll need to prove he breached the contract. Consult an attorney before moving to terminate the contract.
