Friday, October 12, 2007

If there is one email I can count on getting pretty regularly it would be the "I'm at the point where I'm thinking of firing my contractor". The homeowners are always at their wits end and have tried to get the contractor to either continue on the job, perform work on a consistent schedule, repair obvious shoddy work or are suddenly faced with some "extra work" performed without their consent and the demands for payment are fast and furious.

Before any homeowner comes to this decision there are definte steps that must be taken before the contractors' walking papers are given. Proper documentation and copies of certified letters sent to the contractor requesting specific problems needing to be resolved, are just a couple of steps a homeowner must take to legally protect themselves down the road. You'll also want to consult with an attorney to discuss your civil exposure and file a complaint with the regulatory agency that oversees the contractors laws in your state.

Be sure to read the article "The Right Way To Fire Your Home Remodeling Contractor" for more discussion on this subject.

This week's blog was inspired by a homeowner who wanted my thoughts on firing her contractor. Her situation and my response can be found at my FAQ section at contractorsfromhell.com

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

I've heard from many consumers over the years who hired a friend - sometimes licensed, sometmes not - to perform some type of remodeling project. And it just never turns out to be the smartest idea and very often it's the end of the so called friendship. Usually the lure is one of "saving money" and the guy could use the work and well, their friends". Yeah right. Quite the opposite typically happens.

The work ends up being shoddy and timelines are not met. Of course there is no contract and the homeowner usually has fronted a good deal of the entire cost of the project with very little to show for it. They've asked repeatedly for some progress and some folks ask for a contract after the fact. These kinds of scenarios rarely work out in favor of the homeowner and only add to their frustration and money lost.

Recently I received another one of these kinds of emails from a homeowners asking what her options are and my answer to her query is posted in my FAQ section of my site.

Bottoom Line: Don't do business with a contractor-friend and expect a great deal. Go through the steps outlined on my site, Tips on Hiring Home Remodeling Contractors as well as Questions To Ask The Contractor regardless of whom you're looking to hire.