Home Remodeling Blog Has Moved!

My blog - Home Remodeling Blog - has been moved to my site and is more up to date that this one on blogger.com Please check the newest one out as I know longer post here. Here's the link: http://www.contractorsfromhell.com/blog/ Thanks! Jody Costello www.contractorsfromhell.com

Do Those Do It Yourself Home Impovement Shows Help Or Hinder The Trades?

I participate in a few forums and blogs and one of the questions posed was if those home improvement shows that depict do-it-yourself weekend projects as being potentially hurtful to the trades and not portraying the real work that goes into the final result. Some actually thought it hurt their business and others thought it devalued their expertise. Still others thought, that ultimately there would be mistakes to correct and in the end good for them. Also that the real work needed to be done behind the scenes wasn't being shown, leaving the impression that it was all too easy to tackle for a weekend project. There were also a few who agreed with me to the extent that education is never a bad thing, as there is a lesson to be learned in all of it - good or bad. Here's my say on it:

I must say that as a homeowner and someone who teaches consumers around the subject of avoiding a home remodeling disaster and choosing their contractor wisely, education is much needed even if it comes in a more sensationalized version from the media. At the very least it opens their minds to the possibilities as well as the potential for problems. Consumers are creating the demand for these shows to satisfy their curiosity and entertainment needs. And I’m seeing more of these shows becoming created through the various media query outlets seeking experts to cast for these shows. They’re here to stay so rather than resist it, why not take the opportunity to educate your customer based on this very subject and inject some reality behind it all?

Both my husband and myself are big do-it-yourselfers, but we know our limits. He has a construction background and I took it upon myself to take classes in order to execute certain finishes. We’ve both been inspired in the past as a result of something we saw on these shows and always farm it out if it’s beyond our abilities. So a professional tradesperson gets some work as a result of our exposure to an idea from a show. That’s a win-win.

Sure there are those who get in over their heads but then that becomes a lesson learned – especially if it cost them more to correct. Finally, having been in the media myself, yes they are looking to create a big impression upon their audience and entertain them at the same time, which is after all, what people want when they sit down in front of their TV sets. And if there is an educational aspect around it, all the better.

Contributing Writer for cover2cover mag.com

Delighted to be a contributing writer for cover2covermag.com an online digital magazine.  I'll be writing about all things \ home improvement!

Contruction Consultant Stiffed By Homeowners - Recourse?

A construction consultant contacted me regarding a homeowner who stiffed him for non-payment claiming that they were owner-builder and therefore employers and didn't have to pay him. He filed a Mechanics Lien and they stated that they were employers as this was an owner builder project and cited some legal reason supporting their case.

Now I don't know all the particulars but it appears that he was only paid for a portion of his consultations for the overall project. Which if true, the homeowners should be taken to task on this in the form of civil litigation.  But of course, the cost to do so may outweigh his fees that have not been paid and it will become a learning experience for him. 

Well, besides him needing to consult with a construction law attorney on just what recourse he has, (he is a contractor and mechanic lien rights are mandated statutes so I'm curious as to how this plays out)  the homeowners are required to register with federal, state and local governments as employers and pay their share of taxes. They probably didn't do that, and when he reports them to these agencies, the penalties and back taxes along with the hassle from government investigators will no doubt have them thinking if stiffing the guy was worth it. Karma does have it's way of coming around - good or bad!

I wrote an article on this subject awhile back. If you haven't read this article on Owner Builder you can read it here:

http://www.contractorsfromhell.com/archives/10

Contractor Problems

I received an email from a homeowner who after signing a contract and moving forward with their remodeling project soon realized they had made a mistake in hiring the contractor.  Which is pretty much what happened to us 11 years ago. My Horror Story and Warning Signs section offered her validation that she was not alone and needed to take action before things got worse.

Unfortunately, from this point forward there are going to be costs not anticipated, such as hiring an attorney to review a contract that is likely devoid of any protective clauses including right to terminate based on specific actions or lack thereof.  Time lines were not being honored by the contractor, who kept offering reassurances that all would be well. They want to terminate the contract but of course fear the ramifications of that and rightly so. In the mean time, they are trying to be patient, asking questions and hoping for the best.  So now they are at the mercy of their contractor, the very thing I teach folks how not to be!  It is my biggest pet peeve that consumers choose their contractors poorly and don't take the time to get educated on their rights, the contractors rights, contractor state laws such as Mechanics Liens, Preliminary Notices, Lien Waivers, background checks and so much more. 

People just don't realize the need to get informed on what I call the pre-renovation process that takes you through all the ins and outs of contracting for a home renovation project and understand what's at stake.

You need to prepare yourself to undertake a project that is going to consume your money and protect that consumption of money from being unfairly drained further due to poor choices and a lack of knowledge.  We consumers are the only ones that are responsible for protecting ourselves from unscrupulous business practices because the government can't and won't protect us. And litigation is a costly way to seek justice and to right a wrong.

If you're planning on renovating then plan on getting educated on the realities and risks and get informed - Join the Home[Pre]modeling Boot Camp for Women (and The Men Who Love Them!) and learn how to prevent a home remodeling disaster and have a more positive experience instead!

Not Knowing Your Rights Can Cost You

I recently received an email from a homeowner who asked if he should sign a Mechanics Lien document that was included with the contract he was to sign to begin a home renovation project. He made reference to some article he read - perhaps on my site - and wanted some clarification.

First off, a general contractor should not be giving the homeowner a Mechanic's Lien along with the contract. And I have no idea exactly where this homeowner is in the process but my advice was to immediately contact a construction law attorney to review what he was given.  Moreover, I detected through his writing that English may be his second language so there is another layer of challenges in what is potentially a  risky undertaking - IF you don't know what your contractor state laws are. 

These kinds of questions are the very reason I created my Home [Pre]emodeling Bootcamp For Women (and The Men Who Love Them!) in an effort to get people educated on making good choices, conducting the right research and getting engaged in doing the work needed to mitigate problems and stay in control of their project and money.

Learn more about the Bootcamp here before you make any decision regarding contractors and your home renovation project.

Avoid The Heartbreak Of A Home Remodeling Project Gone Wrong: 5 Mistakes Homeowners Make When Hiring Contractors

It’s a fact.  There are both good and bad contractors working in the industry.  And it’s no secret to consumers that remodeling nightmares exist as we’ve either read about them or know of folks who have been through it.  Yet time and again, consumers find themselves in trouble with their projects and contractors as a result of their lack of knowledge on what they need to do to protect themselves from unscrupulous business practices.

Home improvement is one of the top industries noted for fraud and customer dissatisfaction and has consistently been ranked as such over the last decade, according to the Consumer Federation of America, The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators and North American Consumer Protection Investigators.

While much of the blame falls on the home improvement industry... Read more here

The Danger Of Accepting A Low Bid

The following article is by guest contributor and General Contractor Keith Lazerson of KL9 Construction in San Diego, CA. It's on a subject I have commented and written on many times and Keith's perspective as an ethical contractor is much appreciated. A must read for homeowners.

Today, more than ever, you need to be careful in choosing a home improvement contractor. Many companies have been hit hard by the recent recession and are desperate for work. Consequently, a lot of contractors are resorting to some unscrupulous tactics in order to get jobs. The most common of these practices is offering a tantalizing low bid on a project with the intention of tacking on extra charges after the job has started. It’s simply a contractor’s version of the old bait and switch. Read the rest of the article here.

ContractorsFromHell.com’s Home Remodeling Blog Is Named in the Top 50 Home Building Blogs

Delighted to have this blog recognized by the construction industry. Read the Press Release here:
http://www.onlineprnews.com/

5 Key Tips For Hiring The Right Contractor For Your Home Remodeling Project (and avoid the contractor from hell!)

Hiring the right home renovation contractor really is an “inside job” that requires thoughtful research on the part of the homeowner. Folks who are considering renovating their homes this year should plan first on getting educated about hiring the right contractor for their project and understanding their rights.

The fact is that home improvement has consistently ranked at the top for consumer dissatisfaction and fraud according to various consumer agencies.
Continue reading article here...

Home Improvement Expert At eLocal.com!

Delighted to be one of the Home Improvement Experts at eLocal.com! http://www.elocalplumbers.com/blog/introducing-elocals-blogoff-series-meet-participants-4179

Introducing eLocal’s New Blog-Off Series: Meet Our Panel of Experts!

www.elocalplumbers.com

eLocal is thrilled to announce a new blog-off series that will bring bloggers and professionals together to discuss hot topics and exciting trends in home

Top 50 Home Building and Cosntruction Blogs

My "Home Remodeling Bootcamp Blog" got nominated as one of the top 50 home construction blogs - thank you! See it here: http://bit.ly/gU807F

Top 50 Construction and Homebuilding Industry Blogs

bit.ly

If you are a home remodeler, home builder or a construction manager who is about to begin a remodeling project, the list of the top 50 construction and home-building industry jobs on this page can be of great benefit to you. Here, you will hear first-hand information from a wide range of constructio

The “Green Approach” To Hiring Home Renovation Contractors

3 Tips Homeowners Can Use to Reduce Wasteful Spending and Create a Sustainable Project That Moves Forward With Fewer Problems

Summary: Green building has been growing as way to reduce waste, conserve energy and repurpose materials, all with the goal of creating a sustainable home. Using these same principals is what I call the “green approach” to hiring home renovation contractors that will reduce wasteful spending, conserves time and energy and contributes to a sustainable project that moves forward with few problems and a positive experience for everyone.

Green building has been all the rage the last couple of years and for good reason. Reducing waste, conserving and repurposing materials and creating a sustainable structure and project benefit’s everyone and protects the environment.

But did you know that you could apply these same principals when hiring home remodeling contractors that will protect your money by reducing the potential for wasting it while creating clear and concise guidelines that both parties can consistently depend on to guide them throughout the project?

Read the rest of the rest of the article: http://www.contractorsfromhell.com/the-green-approach-to-hiring-home-renovation-contractors

To Trust or Not To Trust: When Should You Place Your Trust In Your Contractor

First of all, the number one confession homeowner 's reveal when burned by a contractor is that they "trusted" them right off the bat. They did not do any research, did not check their license, (if required in their state) or check for any history of complaints, either through regulatory agencies or the BBB.

Many believed that because the person called him/herself a contractor, had a business license, cards - the whole kit and caboodle - was enough for them to move forward. BIG MISTAKE!

Consumers have to do more than just the bare requirements to avoid a home remodeling nightmare and an encounter with the contractor from hell. Doing your license check and relying on that plus a "no history of complaints" is only a necessary formality but in no way gives you the entire picture. Plus a 'No history of complaints" from a regulatory agency does not reveal ongoing investigations not yet disclosed to the public. Same thing goes for checking references. How do you know those are legitimate references? Homeowners check references, get good reviews ( we did!) and still end up with serious problems.

Bottom line - trust is something that is earned, not freely given to a stranger. Once you've done all the necessary ground
work on potential contractors and conducted thorough interviews will you be able to get to trust your contractor of choice. Trust is based on their behavior, past and current record and what you discover in your research.

If you want to learn more on how to best protect yourself check out the "Home [Pre]modeling Bootcamp for Women and the Men Who Love Them" and get informed!

Renovating in a Recession

As I'm typing this the house next door is being completely renovated - actually they tore it down and are rebuilding - and the sound of nail guns popping away is constant. And there are three other renovations within a couple of blocks from us under way in the last couple of months. So at least in my neighborhood contractors are working, albeit not in the way it was during the hey days of refinancing.

I've written an article on renovating in a recession, which you'll be able to link to and read at the end of this blog, the theme being that more than ever homeowners need to protect themselves from ending up with an unethical contractor.

Just stating "renovating in a recession" sounds silly given the fact that recession denotes a lack of money, but there are going to be those folks who are beginning to remodel or rebuild their home out of necessity. Natural disasters such as wild fires and floods as well as those fortunate to be financially set to do so, but perhaps waited to see how the economy would play out. Either way, a heightened sense of being smart about doing all the important research, knowing what needs to be included in a contract and choosing a contractor wisely are even more critical during these challenging times.

I see articles that are geared towards encouraging homeowners to strike up deals with contractors whose businesses have been hit hard by the recession believing they are willing to cut their profits to get the job. The fact is that contractors can indeed pass on savings such as lower material costs but they have to pay themselves as well. Any contractor that promises thousands of dollars in cost reductions (this includes labor) isn't being truthful and that shouldn't be the basis for your choice in a contractor. Far from it. If you read through my site, you'll know what you need to look for and do and certainly in my Home Remodeling Bootcamp For Homeowners I stress these points in a lesson format that takes you through all the elements, but never is it about getting a great deal.

Unless you define a great deal as getting quality workmanship, having an ethical contractor who is transparent in his business practices and communicates with you on a regular basis, giving you an opportunity to ask questions and address concerns. That's what I call a great deal and something most people overlook or fail to understand, and that it doesn't come with every contractor out there.

I've written an article entitled "Renovating In A Recession: Why It Could Cost You More If You Don't Protect Yourself With These 7 Key Clauses In Your Contract".

I've taken some of the points I cover in my "Home Remodeling Bootcamp For Homeowners" and stress these in the article. You can read the article by clicking here: Renovating In A Recession.

Avoiding Shoddy Home Constrction Defects

A Consumer Reports investigation conducted a couple of years back found that 15% of new homes built during the booming days of building and renovating had serious construction defects. That's probably doubled in today's climate given the length of time these homes have been on the market and the time it takes for defects to show up.

Industry types attribute this to the "face pace" and frenzy that was on going and the lack of skilled workers presented challenges. But builders and contractors alike took advantage of these non skilled workers aka, Mexican immigrants - some legal, some not - hiring them to do jobs they should not been involved in performing due to insufficient training. Add to this low paying wages and little to no supervisoin and you have a recipe for disaster. So it's no surprise with the rise in foreclosures being scooped up by home buyers that they're also facing a myriad of construction defects.

You can read a report from ConsumerReports.org that addresses the most common problems to look for when purchasing a home here: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2008/04/shoddy-homes.html

What The Downturn in Residential Construction Has Given Consumers

Last week I spoke with a contractor - whom I hired to do some landscaping that requires the buildup of two small walls - not retaining - with some grading and backfill. Not a big project by any means but we got to talking about the current state of construction and how his business is surviving the downturn. According to him, they are doing OK but his phone isn't ringing off the hook as it did in the years past. They have also scaled down to their original "trusted" choice of subs they've worked with for years and the other sub contractors they brought in during the booming days are now gone.

On that subject, we talked about the difficulty many contractors ran into with taking on new subs that they didn't do any background checks on - because they were too busy to do so - and very often it came back to bite them in the form of shoddy work and complaints from homeowners. Which is why homeowners need to do their own checking on the subs their general contractor chooses and include in the contract that they must be licensed and insured, separate from the contractor himself. Using this contractor as an example of some one who ran an ethical business and prided himself on producing quality work, once he chose to deviate from his usual practice of vetting his new subs to bring on for the added workload, he ended up taking the hit and spending money to correct the problems created by the new workforce. And that's a lesson he learned and when things pick up he states he will be more careful in his choices and make the time to vet new subs. But clearly, that's a problem I've heard from other contractors as to their available pool of so called "skilled" workers. And that's another area where educating the building workforce on meeting industry standards and quality workmanship needs to be fostered on a local level. But does the industry care enough to raise the bar and the need for greater education? If so, it certainly hasn't worked so far. Complaints against contractors for shoddy work is still the number one complaint with national consumer organizations.

Finally, the contractor made an interesting and likely correct assessment of todays' still standing and thriving -albeit much more leaner - contracting workforce. And that is given the downturn and lack of demand for residential construction those contractors - licensed or not - have left the area or have taken on other work as their only interest was to cash in on the renovating boom of years past. These guys were not interested in building a sound business and creating a solid reputation in their communities. A lot of these characters easily got licenses or registrations and jumped on the bandwagon and started basically ripping consumers off. And there were far too many of them; I don't care what anybody says the proof is in the complaints and resulting messes left behind by these con-men and I was sickened by the numerous complaints I received over the last nine years. And the contractor not only agreed with me but shared some stories he witnessed of these so called contractors taking advantage of unassuming homeowners.

It is my intention with the help of my Home Remodeling Boot Camp For Homeowners that the next round of an up tick in residential construction will yield more educated consumer swho ultimately can help themselves avoid a construction nightmare and mitigate the most common problems most homeowners make.

Debunking Conventional Thinking When Hiring Contractors

Over the last year I have had frequent discussions with a construction consultant discussing various ways in which we could help consumers understand the need for educating themselves on the risks and realities in residential construction. For himself, locally with consumers and me on a national scale.

And one of the areas I would like to shine some light on is the notion that everyone suggests homeowners to do -myself included - when vetting their contractors. Here it is:

Consumer agencies and home improvement sites who offer tips to homeowners on how to properly vet their contractor always suggest that the homeowner visit an ongoing project that the contractor has going. OK, well what will that tell the consumer? Do they know what they are looking for and why? Do they understand anything about constructing a house? How important is this in the scheme of things that is important for the consumer to do in their research?

Using our case as an example, we went to a project the contractor from hell supposedly had going and the walls were open so that you could see the studs, joists, brackets and essentially the guts before everything was sealed with the drywall. There were no windows or doors installed yet, but my husband with a background in construction knew what he was looking for but me - not so much. I relied on his expertise. The only thing that could be construed as a red flag - and probably was given our experience with the contractor from hell, was that we had gone by the project three different times over the course of several weeks and no one was ever there working or otherwise.

So the lesson here for the consumer is, with all the other factors that must be researched and considered when preparing to get your project underway ,visiting the job site of someone else's projects tells you little to nothing about the contractor or even how it will translate to your particular project unless you're schooled in construction practices. Otherwise, you're clueless as to what you're looking at and so I have to consider this one suggestion for homeowners as pretty much worthless in the overall vetting of your contractor.

There are so many other essential and critical areas to discern that will truly help the homeowner to achieve a more positive home remodeling and building project and I'll touch on those in future blogs.

Mandatory Arbitration Clauses / Construction Defects

Mandatory Arbitration is the worst clause a consumer can agree to as it strips them of their rights to a jury of their peers. And it's no surprise that Construction arbitration firms were either created by or with the help of major homebuilder associations, causing an immediate conflict of interest. I found an article on this subject that is a must read for any one entering into a contract to either renovate or build a home:

Home builders Stack Deck Against Buyers With Arbitration: New Report shines light on unscrupulous practices

Also, construction defects are beginning to rear it's ugly head around the nations a a result of the building frenzy in the late 90's and 2000.

Fallout from the 90’s Housing Boom: Construction defects begin to appear

Introducing a Construction Consultant Familar with Home Remodeling Nightmares

This past year I've pretty much devoted my time to putting together the Home Remodeling Bootcamp For Homeowners in an effort to really get consumers involved in doing as much homework and research in the areas that will ultimately determine the success or failure of their project. The last 9 years of counseling the "walking wounded" that have ended up on my site asking for help with their horrible situations really motivated me to create the Bootcamp. There were some common themes throughout all their stories that, had they known about in advance, would have saved them from a construction nightmare. And the same holds true for my own nightmare 10 years ago. If I knew then what I know now, well, I guess the ContractorsFromHell.com site would never have been created. With that said, it was my intent - and still is - that my experience and those of others could help homeowners avoid the pitfalls that we experienced

One of the points I bring out not only on my website but in the Bootcamp as well is finding a reputable Construction Consultant or Home Inspector that you can bring in at specific milestones of your project. This is a third party who can advise you on any challenges or questions you may have going with your contractor and renovation project. You can read more about that in detail on my site as well as in the Home Remodeling Bootcamp For Homeowners introduction page.

On the subject of Construction Consultants, I was contacted by a consultant out of New Jersey about a year and a half ago who found my website and wanted to introduce himself and let me know that he was very much in agreement with my views even though we come to it from different experiences. His name is Mark Trapani and the owner of Contracting Smart. And so we started a dialog and began exchanging information and ideas on what we could do within our own respective businesses to help consumers make better choices in contractors as well as educate them on the risks and realities of renovating an existing structure. Not to mention key components needed in the contract, spec sheet and complete transparency for all parties. Mark also is vested in educating contractors and architects in the business of contracting and how they can contribute to a better outcome with their clients.

We're now talking about developing a joint venture together and I'll be sharing more about that here on my blog. Until then...