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By Kathy Van Mullekom Daily Press (Newport News, Va.)
Published on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007
NEWPORT NEWS, VA.: You've heard the scam stories. A contractor offers to replace a roof or patch a driveway, asks for upfront money and then leaves, never to be seen again. Or disappears in the middle of the job.
The mere thought of that kind of rip-off artist makes you want to put up with leaky faucets and drafty windows.
You can find a credible contractor who can do a good job without taking you to the cleaners.
Ask around. Word-of-mouth reference is one of the best ways to find a good fix-it person or contractor to do major remodeling work. In Hampton, Va., Melanie Paul used word-of-mouth recommendations to hire a handyman who is installing new kitchen cabinets for $5,000 less than the big-box stores and $2,000 less than the next lowest-bid handyman. She says he's polite and professional and communicates well.
Get good phone numbers. Never accept only a cell phone as a point of contact, according to Bea Waggener of Newport News, Va. Make sure the person has a ‘‘real‘‘ phone number and business address. ‘‘The Better Business Bureau told me that when I wanted to file a complaint and all I had was a cell phone number on a business card,‘‘ she said.
Interview several. Talk to at least three contractors and get their bids. Stick to the same project details for each contractor so you have comparable costs to evaluate. Then, look at work each has done for earlier customers and ask about reliability, cost overruns and timeliness.
Check their tools and truck. Neater is better, says Kevin Ireton, editor for Fine Homebuilding magazine. An unorganized, dirty truck can be evidence of how a contractor operates on the job. Visit www.finehomebuilding.com.
Verify them. Get a copy of their contractor's license and ask their insurance company to fax or e-mail you proof they have insurance and workers' compensation.
Ask lots of questions. Does he offer a warranty and how does it work? How does he handle disputes? How does he handle work changes if you want something extra done? Does he have more than one job going at a time? Who runs the show when he's not around; can you meet that person?
Go online. Web sites such as www.angieslist.com and www.jobsitejoe.com offer forums where homeowners can request job estimates, but, again, check references and know who and what you are getting.
NEWPORT NEWS, VA.: You've heard the scam stories. A contractor offers to replace a roof or patch a driveway, asks for upfront money and then leaves, never to be seen again. Or disappears in the middle of the job.
Get the full article here.
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