Do Your Homework Before You Sign!!!

Sometimes I feel like I'm beating a dead horse when I preach about this, and because I feel that way, I back down and just don't preach it, yet again. But, honestly, you can't hear this sermon enough, folks. Randy & I work hard to run a professional business and we want to be our customer's advocates, protecting them from unscrupulous contractors and vendors.

On a recent job that we looked at, an entire basement had been remodeled, complete with bathroom and kitchen. The kitchen was designed so poorly that corner cabinets couldn't even be opened. The shower in the bathroom wasn't drained properly, if at all, and when the homeowner went to take a shower - the water poured out into the bathroom. This improper draining also caused a mold situation to arise, also affecting the kitchen cabinets on the shared wall. The toilet was drained into a common drain and the customer was told they had to clean it out periodically (WRONG). The dryer vent was vented out into the basement, so the lint was blowing out into the basement. And there was more, but I think you get the picture. This contractor was recommended by a well-known tile store. I can totally understand why this customer would trust that recommendation. But, you can't stop there - on our website, there is a list of items you should check - and PLEASE check out every single one! Yes, this takes time, but in the long run, you are saving yourself a HUGE headache!

Everyone has heard at least one remodeling nightmare story . . . either the work was done so poorly that it had to be replaced (as is the case with the aforementioned basement), costs went well beyond the estimate, or the contractor simply disappeared with the money. To avoid becoming another statistic, you absolutely MUST take the time to do your research and homework. You want your project done right the first time. Especially these days, you cannot tap into more money to repair mixtakes or to take your contractor to court. As I mentioned before, on our website, visit our Choosing a Contractor link for tips on how to cover your bases. PLEASE make sure to check off each and every suggestion when you are choosing the company that is going to be in your home, around your loved ones, pets and valuables and making changes to the structure of your home. Also, please watch the NARI videos on the NARI link of our website for more information. When you are comparing contracts, if one contractor is thousands less than others, THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT!!! Sorry, my passion on this subject is rearing it's ugly head. Here is a list of why that could be:

• The contractor just wanted to get your money and has no intention of doing your work - they are leaving the area with your money.


• The contractor is using sub-standard materials that aren't going to last.


• The contractor is using sub-standard subcontractors who don't know what they're doing.


• The contractor doesn't know how to run their business and could possibly run out of money during the job and come to you for more to complete the job.


• Also, in not knowing how to properly run their business, I guarantee you, they won't be able to stay in business, thus rendering them unable to honor their warrantee (if they even offer one) when things go wrong (and with a cheap contractor, chances are REALLY good that things will fall apart).


• The contractor is quoting you a low price to get the job and will hit you up with change orders so you end up paying the same if not more than the scrupulous contractors were charging.


• The contractor hasn't listed all aspects of the job and you are assuming they are included and guess what? They're not! DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR CLARITY!!! A good contractor will be more than happy to answer your questions/doubts/concerns, etc. If they're not - RUN!

There are other reasons for a cheap bid, but these are definitely common ones that we have heard have happened to potential customers and others we have met and talked to.

While it is never a good thing when we lose a contract to another contractor, we at least can deal with it if we know they are another reputable contractor. When that is not the case, it makes us heartsick for our potential customer and we just truly wish them well and pray that they don't become another statistic or news story.

So, to sum it up - this is your home, your family and your hard-earned money we're talking about. Doing your research and some homework is a must. You can then rest assured that you will get a great job done by a great contractor who stands behind their work.

Visit us are our website to learn all about who we are and what we believe in and then give us a call to discuss your remodeling project. We look forward to talking to you!