Hiring Contractors for Service Work | Handyman Employment | Fixer Upper

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Hiring Contractors for Service Work

A lens devoted to hiring contractors to do work in your home or business.  Avoiding the pitfalls of hiring the wrong contractor.

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Hiring the Right Contractor 

As part of any home sale or real estate investment property upkeep, repairs will almost certainly be necessary. Those repairs can range from Pick the right contractorsmall jobs that you can handle yourself to larger jobs such as roof or foundation repairs that most likely only a contractor can fix for you. In that eventuality, there is a lot of time and energy required to pick the right contractor for the job.


There are many contractors out there and picking the right one can be the difference between a great experience and one that puts you off of investment properties or off of real estate transactions all together. These are some tips to keep in mind when you are researching a contractor to give you the best possible experience...[more Right Contractor]


Additional Contractor Hiring Resources & General Home Improvement Information: Cut The Contractor Loose | The Perfect Roof | Inspect Your Inspector | Home Inspection Expectations | Do The Fixer Upper Math | Home Inspection Zen | Five Home Improvements | Home Repair Projects | Fix Your Fixer Upper

Lies From Contractors 

If you have dealt with contractors, you have probably heard the same lies I have. They erupt from their mouths as rationale for their questionable behavior and unreasonable demands. They are often accompanied by "righteous indignation" that anyone would question this contractor's forthrightness.


Here, in no particular order of deceitfulness, are four of them.


It's a standard agreement

Sure it is.  It's your standard agreement that requires the property owner to give away the store and that doesn't require the contractor to complete the job in a workmanlike manner or, for that matter, even complete it at all.  The "standard agreement" does require you to pay, though.


One electrician who did work on a property of a landlord I know had a "standard agreement" that didn't even require him to clean up his mess or repair the wall he put holes in for the wiring.


Everybody does it that way

I certainly hope they don't, because if everybody did it that way, buildings would be falling down all over the country.  Those are the words you hear when you ask about the corners the contractor cut to get the job done cheaper. Because contractors always "did it that way" we have building codes.  Those building codes were not instituted because every contractor was meticulous in his work.  They were instituted because of the work that goes along with "everybody does it that way."


I need the money up front

Then you don't need to work on my property.  You get paid when you are finished and the work is done properly.  Not getting paid should not be a problem for a contractor because of contractors' lien laws, which can result in a lien on the property they worked on if the owner doesn't pay.  If the contractor doesn't have the money or credit to buy the necessary equipment to do the job, that should raise a crimson flag.

 

I couldn't sleep nights if . . .

This is the one that says "Liar, crook and scam artist!"  When you hear those words, tell the contractor he has five seconds to leave the property.


A number of years ago I heard those words come out of the mouth of a furnace repairman.  The oil furnace didn't work and the tenants, instead of calling me, opened the Yellow Pages and called the number in the biggest ad.  They called me in a panic after he told them the "furnace was shot," and could blow up. When I arrived he tried to con me with those very words.  He couldn't sleep nights if he didn't replace this furnace.  I told him to leave in none too kind words.


After he left I called Bill, the furnace repairman I always used.  He came over, fiddled, messed around and tweaked, then said, "Are you sure you've got oil?" When he measured the oil in the tank, there wasn't any to measure.


Reputable contractors don't have "a standard agreement," they have agreements that can be amended and corrected to fit the job. They don't necessarily do work the way "everybody" does it, they do it the way that is correct. They also have good credit so don't require money up front. And "they couldn't sleep nights" if they did sloppy work or cheated a customer. Lies that both you and I have heard are those that should tell us to send a sleazy contractor on his way and call a reputable company. 


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Wanna Hire A Contractor? Very Funny! 

Very funny except the last guy! Ouch!

Do not hire these contractors

Minor construction work gone wrong

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Home Depot Contractor Investigation 

Home Depot Investigation

KNBC-TV Investigative report on Home Depot installation services. This hidden camera news story explores problems consumers say they have had with the company when they contracted to do roofing, kitchen remodeling and hardwood floor installation. Find out more at: www.nbc4.tv

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Home Improvement Scams: Unlicensed Contractors 

Home Improvement Scams: Unlicensed Contractors

Hiring a licensed contractor for your next home improvement project should assure you that they're honest and competent. The problem is making sure they're actually licensed contractors.

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Hiring Contractors Reader Feedback 

Another Quality Lens By Joe and Colleen Lane!


You do not need a Squidoo account to leave feedback, however,

consider signing up today and creating your first lens! It's a hoot!

Lensmaster

Construction Marketing Dude Again wrote

in reply to Construction Marketing Dude

THere are some great contractors out there! That website is http://www.ConstructionMarketingBlog.com

Reply Posted June 23, 2009

Lensmaster

Construction Marketing Dude wrote

Great lens! The topic of trust in hiring contractors in a huge issue. This causes great heartache for homeowners, but also for all reputable contractors out there! Imagine being a hardworking, honest contractor facing the average homeowner who thinks all contractors are con artists. That's the life of a contractor. There are some awesome construction companies out there. If you learn how to find the good ones, your projects will go much smoother! More Construction Marketing stuff at

Reply Posted June 23, 2009

Lensmaster

Ray Milano wrote

I'm glad there are others out there trying to make the residential construction industry safer. I'm CEO of 23hammers and concept I created to help protect homeowners in Virginia. Great information, you might not be able to quantify those this lens will help, but it will reach many. Great Job!!!

Reply Posted April 14, 2009

hesed1 wrote...

Nice lens! I am going to link you from mine. Little much to scroll through in the amazon mod though.
http://www.squidoo.com/Finding-Honest-Contractors
http://www.squidoo.com/Choosing-a-Roofing-Contractor

ReplyPosted February 18, 2009

BrianS wrote...

Nice lens, I think we have all met the I couldn't sleep at night merchant over the years if you owned a property. Thanks for joining the Interior Design, Soft furnishings and Decor group.

ReplyPosted October 09, 2008

Margo_Arrowsmith wrote...

Well, its a great and useful lens and is going into my Squidoo library lens. But I have to tell you, I would give it 5* just for the intro picture alone!

ReplyPosted September 30, 2008

Lensmaster

Hi,
The lens is interesting and also important. Thumbs up. Your work in creating this lens is appreciable.
Checkout my blog
http://handymanlocator.net/

ReplyPosted September 25, 2008

Lensmaster

Hi,
Hiring contractors is not an easy job and also it is very important to select a good and experience person, who can work accordingly.
Feel free to checkout my blog
http://generalcontractorguide.net/

ReplyPosted September 24, 2008

Lensmaster

Yes!
it is very descriptive lens, I think before hiring a contractors, we have to check his capability and strength.
Checkout my lens that focuses on good electricians,
thanks you!

ReplyPosted June 16, 2008

ShortSaleRealtor wrote...

great lens again 5 stars 4 u

ReplyPosted January 18, 2008

 
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