Below blog post is a guest post written by John Adams. According to him, John Adams is a paralegal who writes about widespread legal and social issues.
Construction or renovation of a house sounds exhilarating, especially when you are deciding on color schemes, flooring, woodwork, and other aspects of interior design. If you get lucky, you and your contractor will see eye to eye, and the project will turn out to be your dream home. Unfortunately, home building or remodelling is not as simple as communicating your ideas and waiting for the contractor to deliver exactly what you want. If you don’t want your project to end in disaster, consider the things your contractor won’t care to mention:
The Paper Work is your Responsibility
When it comes to inspections, legal approvals, and work permits, the contractor won’t bat an eye. They couldn’t care less about the security of your home, because they won’t be living in it. Many contractors out there don’t even have a construction license, and they won’t admit until you interrogate.
You should check for Insurance
Your contractor will not remind you to check your personal homeowner insurance or review their insurance coverage. If the contractor or a subcontractor is injured on the job and there is no insurance policy to cover the damage, you may have to pay worker’s compensation out of your pocket.
I make Promises I don’t Intend to Keep
We all hope that everything will come together swiftly and the project will reach completion in due time. When a contractor claims that the job will take a month at most, it is practical to multiply the estimated time by 3 (which is three months in this case). Moreover, most contractors are a jack-of-all-trades, but master of none. They tell you that they can take care of everything and you agree in the hopes of saving ample time and money. Shortly, you regret letting the same person handle plumbing and electricity.
My Low Bid meant to Lower your Expectations
You must raise suspicions if you find a contractor who bids considerably lower than the others you consulted for a job. Typically, less money translates to substandard products and poor execution.
I am not a Designer
Contractors always opt for the easy way. They do not consider the aesthetics or overall feasibility. If you are aiming for something exclusive, you should probably hire an architect. Contractors hate working with architects, are they can no longer do as they please and their monetary share shrinks.
Upfront Payment means you have more Money to Spare
Never make the mistake of paying for a job upfront. You can either pay in installments as the project develops, or issue a lump sum after completion. Otherwise, the contractor is naturally tempted to overcharge and delay work.
Don’t expect me to Clean Up
Construction work is messy. The dust, trash, and debris at the end of a busy day tend to be a lot. Talk about cleaning up at the beginning, or your house will resemble a landfill within a matter of days.
You won’t See me Every Day
Most contractors are working on multiple projects at a time, because that’s the way this business is. They might skip the part where they won’t show up on your site every day. Nonetheless, you must confirm that they are always reachable in case you need to discuss something or resolve an issue.
My Loyalty belongs to my Crew
Homeowners are often under the impression that the contractor will look out for them because they are paying them. In reality, your project is just another job to them; their livelihood largely depends upon the crew, so that is where their loyalty truly lies.
I might have a Criminal Record
You never know if your contractor was arrested in another state for fraud, theft, or some other criminal offense. Therefore, never hire one unless they are bonded and have a valid license for the job at hand. You shall also run a credit check, because a history of poor financial management is a bad sign.
Author Bio
John Adams is a paralegal who writes about widespread legal and social issues. He helps readers overcome challenges and solve many personal problems the smart way, rather than the hard way. He aims to reach out to individuals who are unaware of their legal rights, and make the world a better place. You may contact him by healthnic1@gmail.com