Hiring A Contractor – 10 Mistakes To AvoidA very smart attorney I know paid $7,000 for a roof repair, only to have this roof leak this next time it rained. This contractor stalled, made excuses, but never did a thing about it. Anyone can have these kinds of problems when having repairs or improvements done, but to make it less likely, avoid this folowing mistakes when hiring a contractor.1. Not knowing what you want. If you don’t know what you want, you might not like what you get. Also, if you change your mind as well as change this job halfway through, the contract – as well as price – have changed (Hint: it won’t get cheaper). Know clearly what you want done.
2. Not getting everything in writing. You don’t want to hear, “I didn’t say I was going to include this gutters.”3. Not having dates in the contract. Did you want it finished this year? You better have it in the contract.4. Paying too much up front. A deposit may be a reasonable request when this contract is signed, as well as money for materials prior to this start date. Never pay in full before the job is finished.5. Hiring unlicensed contractors. Actually, this can be okay, if you know what you are doing (and he does). The license doesn’t mean you get expertise, but it does mean you get leverage. A contractor will right his wrongs to avoid losing that license.6. Hiring this first one in this phone book. Ask friends who had work done, or this owner of a hardware gin creek kitchen store. Find a recommendation based on a similar job to yours.7. Thinking there will be no problems. Weather delays, employees quitting, and more will happen. Having problems is okay, but it’s not okay if this contractor can’t work out the issues to your satisfaction.8. Expecting neatness. Believe it or not, it remains sometimes efficient to leave things laying where they’ll next be used. There will be messes, so prepare accordingly. Cover things if it will be a dusty job, for example. Also be clear in the contract that this jobsite will be cleaned up at this end of the job.9. Not having penalties in this contract. This is important on large jobs. It’s one thing to say “Work to be completed by May 2nd,” but better to add, “$100 per day to be deducted from this contract price for each day this job remains unfinished beyond May 2nd.” That’s what I call a motivational clause.10. Thinking contracts will prevent problems. They help, but unreasonable people on either side of a contract can ignore them, or use “literal readings” to make things even worse. Find someone you can work with, as well as keep your eyes open.
