There are some jobs around the house that require expert know-how. We realize that some thrifty publications recommend that when it comes to home improvements or repairs, you should always “do it yourself.” We don’t. While we try to do most jobs ourselves, we recognize that there are limits to our abilities and there are limits to the time we can allow to specific jobs. Remember, being an economizer isn’t just about saving money — it’s about saving time and stress and preserving relationships.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Image Caption: Don’t be shy about asking questions of potential contractors. The more thorough your research is, the more likely you’ll get a great deal and avoid getting tarred and feathered.
Having a basic knowledge and skill level of plumbing, electrical, drywall, painting and landscaping will save you thousands of dollars over a lifetime. But tackling a big project without expertise spells disaster, extra expense, and total frustration. For these jobs, we call in the experts.
We’ve completed numerous projects in our homes. For some jobs, we consulted or hired experienced contractors to do all or part of the work. Hiring a contractor costs money. We advocate starting a project only when the cash is in the bank — never take out a loan. By following our principles for researching, hiring, managing and paying a contractor, you’ll always get much more for your money.
Projects We’ve Hired Contractors For
Below is a partial list of the projects we’ve hired out in the last 20 years.
Block wall
After years of trying to maintain and repair a rotting wooden fence around the backyard of our first house, we partnered with one of our neighbors and installed a cement block wall. With our big dogs, a solid fence is a necessity.
Central Air Conditioning
With summer temperatures as high as 120 degrees, most houses here are equipped with central air conditioning. We’ve replaced ours once at each house. The second time, we were familiar with the terminology and knew the questions to ask. In this case, the lowest bidder’s price was 60 percent less than our trusted air conditioning service company. Our regular service person knew the reputation and quality workmanship of this company and encouraged us to use them. They were a larger company and needed to keep their crews working during a slow period in the year, and we benefited with their lower bid.
Kitchen Remodel
We’ve also done this project at each house. Both times, we purchased the cabinets, and Steve helped install them with Annette’s dad and a friend whom we paid. We also purchased and installed several appliances, most utilizing coupons or discounts.
Carpeting
We’ve done this one twice, too. The first time, Steve and a college buddy installed the carpeting. The second time, the carpet was ordered before we bid on the house. We chose the color, but not the quality or the contractor. We didn’t know to ask to see a plan for the seam layout, so we had to work through some issues with the contractor.
Natural Gas Plumbing
We did this to convert many of our appliances from electric to gas and reduce our electric bill. We researched numerous contractors over several months, then designed the piping layout ourselves and closely supervised the lowest bidder on the job.
Glass Block Window
We had this installed in our master bathroom.
Hardwood flooring
After years of trying to maintain and repair an improperly installed wood floor, Steve and the kids removed the old floor, and we paid an expert to install the floor properly.
The Value of Research
Free enterprise can always be used to our advantage. Businesses not only want to make money, but they want to keep their employees busy and avoid layoffs. If a particular field is very competitive, savvy researchers can win the bidding wars as prices are driven down to keep workers on the job. Remember, every price is negotiable.
Step one: Initial Contact
Doing thorough research is super important. We use sources like phone books (old style), Yelp, Angie’s List and other research tools will get you powerful information in selecting the best contractor.
We assemble a folder for the project and create a call list of contractors from friends and neighbors. Then we refer to the Yellow Pages. We avoid companies that have full-page ads in the phone book. Don’t skimp on this step — you can save much time by eliminating, early on, contractors who are unlicensed, unbonded or have sullied reputations. NEVER, NEVER — did we say NEVER? — hire a company that knocks on your door offering their services . . . for anything.
Step Two: The Interview
As we meet with each contractor, we take copious notes — usually one to two pages on each one. Our discussions with friends who have had similar work done usually yield a list of questions to ask. As we interview more people, our list of questions grows along with our knowledge of the trade. It’s funny to see an unsuspecting contractor raise his eyebrows as Annette asks a trade-specific, technical question he was not expecting to hear from an “uninformed” woman.
Questions and More Questions
Here are some of the questions we ask:
How long have you been in business? How long have you done business in our state? Usually, longer is better, but newer with good references are often less expensive.
Will my project require a permit? If you don’t know, you should call your city’s building department and find out prior to interviewing anyone. Asking this question will test the contractor’s knowledge and honesty. By the way, offering to take your time to go to the city and get the permit can save you some money too. But don’t offer this until the price is finalized. Then deduct the cost.
We also ask each person, “Are there any other questions I should be asking?” Most are flattered and want to share their knowledge—and tell you why their product is the best. One roofer spent a good amount of time explaining the different qualities of shingles and various types of tar paper.
A kitchen cabinet rep explained the different types of drawer construction — dovetailed versus stapled ends.
We were also told to ask about the construction quality of the cabinet boxes. Were they made of plywood or particle board?
Are the drawer guides A, B or C quality? What type of warranty is offered on the construction and the wood finish? It feels so good to progress from ignorance to a well-informed buyer.
Our kitchen cabinets were plywood boxes with solid oak doorframes and door fronts, except for the four that had glass display doors.
When we remodeled our second kitchen, we called and met with at least 15 different cabinet reps or designers over a six-week period. One rep wouldn’t quote the job because, according to him, “Your budget won’t be adequate for a job this size.” Annette not only redid the kitchen but also added the wood floors for the amount we had originally budgeted.
Step Three: Use Your Intuition
As you interview prospective candidates, observe them carefully. You can glean a lot of information by the way a person dresses, carries himself and speaks. Be on the lookout for inconsistencies and promises that sound too good to be true. Also note whether they return phone calls, show up on time and send information as promised. If they are lax in any of these areas before the sale, they’ll likely be worse afterward.
A dear friend, who knew an air-conditioning contractor, referred him to us but had never used his services. During the interview, we asked about his qualifications, and he said he was licensed. When we checked him out with the Registrar of Contractors, we discovered that his license had been revoked. When we called him about it, he said that he knew, but since he was thinking of merging his business with another company, it didn’t really matter. A lack of integrity in answering a simple question is usually an indication of a lack of integrity in bigger things. He didn’t get the job.
Another time, we were researching windows for our garage to replace openings with security bars. Annette met with a fellow who owned a window business that sold several different national brands. He tried to convince her that his company actually manufactured the windows on his property. He was in his 50’s with dyed blonde hair, huge rings on his fingers, fancy clothes and not a lick of truth in him. Other things he said and did convinced us that he was not the type of person we wanted to deal with. He did, however, provide us with quite a laugh.
Usually, in a marriage, one spouse is better than the other at “reading” or perceiving a person’s character. If you aren’t, don’t ignore the “I can’t explain it, but I just don’t feel comfortable with this person” statements that you might hear. It could save you thousands of dollars. If you’re widowed or single, before you sign any contract, review the review final data with someone you respect who will ask you the tough questions.
Step Four: The Final Decision
When the interviews are complete, we review our notes together and discuss the options. Once we’ve narrowed it down to a final few, we check with the Registrar of Contractors to see if their licenses are current and if there are any complaints filed against them. We also call the Better Business Bureau to see if they have any unresolved complaints. These organizations won’t necessarily give you the same information; that’s why it’s important to call both.
We phone each of the finalists and asked a few more questions. Usually, by this point, we’ve received a well-rounded education in the trade we are studying. We discuss the final nitty-gritty details of the project, add in any upgrade costs or other options we might want and negotiate the final price.
There are always ways to save money. If two companies have similar products but one has a lower price, ask if the other company can match or beat the price. Ask if there are any special promotions or sales coming up — sometimes the special price can be authorized early. Be sure to ask about delivery charges, tax and rush charges. In the end, ask for everything in writing. Never just go on a handshake — even if the deal is with a friend. The final estimate should have all the extras and discounts listed out. If they won’t put it in writing, eliminate them. If you need more data on your final candidate, ask for three customer references that you can contact.
We don’t recommend using the lowest bidder unless you’ve gathered a pile of positive information and glowing references. Of the four times we did go with the lowest bidder, only two turned out hassle-free.
Step Five: Payday
Never pay all the money for a job up front. During your final negotiations, you should determine a payment schedule. You should always hold at least 25 percent of the final bill until the job is completed to your satisfaction. If you pay them everything and a problem surfaces at the end, they are less likely to resolve it.
Getting quality home improvement projects completed only requires you to be expert in one thing, and it’s not a trade like plumbing or masonry — it’s a skill. Once you master your research skills, you’ll be happier, your house will be happier and you’ll come out money ahead every time.
The Mechanics Liens
Even if you pay your contractor in full, you stand the chance of having a lien put on your house — this nearly happened to us when we had a block fence installed. A mechanics lien can be put on your house if your contractor hires, but does not pay, a subcontractor.
A lien of this type can hinder the sale of your home or cause you to have to sell your home to satisfy the lien holder. Always ask for a release of lien from every person and supplier who works on your project — get it in writing and keep it with your project paperwork.
Another way to protect yourself is to issue a two party check to your contractor and subcontractor or supplier. The contractor can’t cash it without a signature guarantee (kind of a notarized signature he obtains at his bank) of the subcontractor — which means that the subcontractor knows that the money has been paid for the job and has leverage to receive his payment.
To learn more ways to protect yourself during home improvement projects visit the Federal Trade Commission website http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro20.shtm
Online Resource:
We have posted a contractor interview sheet here. It has sample questions and places to fill in all the pertinent information you might gather. We’ve used this to help us make sure we’re getting the best deal possible.