Complete Home Services, LLC
| For the Best Room in the House! Nolensville, TN 37135 Phone: (615) 349-0909 |
| Choosing The Right Contractor |
Do Your Homework:
1) Ask friends, neighbors, or co-workers for contractors referrals.
2) Before hiring a contractor, get his or her name, address, and phone number. Confirm the company's
existence by calling information.
3) Ask to see references, and check up on them. If possible, take a look at other work performed by the same
contractor.
4) Verify that the contractor has adequate liability and workers' compensation and insurance.
5) Before hiring a contractor, ask for a copy of his or her current license (if applicable). If your state has a
Contractor's Licensing Board, always check the Board to make sure that the contractor is licensed and in good
standing. Check with the Attorney General or Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints filed
against this contractor.
Be Wary
6) Always be suspicious of contractors who solicit work from you, especially those who seek construction work
on a door-to-door basis.
7) Always be cautious of whom you let into your home. Sometimes contractors may be sizing up your house
for burglary, or they may distract you while their partners steal your belongings.
8) Watch out for contractors who offer a price that's too good to be true. Low bids usually come from novice
or desperate contractors and usually result in markups, change orders, and overall shoddy work.
9) Be wary of any free termite, radon, or lead tests offered by contractors. Contractors sometimes use tactics
like bogus meters or will sprinkle sawdust and even a few termites bodies around to convince you of your
termite problem.
10) Be suspicious of contractors promising low prices on products. When these products are found
unsuitable for your project which can be the case, a contractor then may use high pressure sales tactics to
sell you a better product at a drastic mark-up.
11) When disasters like floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes strike, be careful of the scam artists they attract.
There is always a great deal of repair work to be done after a natural disaster - and overwhelmed homeowners
are ideal victims for fraudulent contractors. Be suspicious of contractors and repairmen who act as if they will
toss all their work aside to solve your problems.
12) In the aftermath of a natural disaster, you should be especially wary of price gouging. Get at least three
different bids before hiring a contractor.
Get It In Writing
13) Always sign a contractor, and make sure change orders are in writing.
14) Make sure your contractor is using quality products, which you can specify in your contract. Contractors
could use substandard products in hidden or less visible areas such as insulation, wiring, and roofing. Often
the cheap products are not discovered until years later, when there is a problem.
15) Do not fall victim to intimidation. Halfway through a project, disreputable contractors can jack up prices
and intimidate homeowners into paying extra money to get the job done. Many consumers will pay more to
complete a job, or to avoid lawsuits or sabotage.
16) Beware of contractors who make extra work. Once the job is underway, these contractors will try to
convince you that they can't "do it right" unless you authorize additional projects. Also be wary of contractors
hired to work on one part of your home who notice a "problem" in another.
17) After a job is completed, as for old parts to make sure replacements really were installed.
Pay for Finished Work
18) Don't pay for a job up front. Never pay for more than 30 percent of the estimated cost in advance. Be
sure to ask if there is a price for an estimate.
19) Before you pay, make sure the work is done properly, or get an inspection. Be sure to check the
identification of all "inspectors."
20) Pay by check, never by cash.
1) Ask friends, neighbors, or co-workers for contractors referrals.
2) Before hiring a contractor, get his or her name, address, and phone number. Confirm the company's
existence by calling information.
3) Ask to see references, and check up on them. If possible, take a look at other work performed by the same
contractor.
4) Verify that the contractor has adequate liability and workers' compensation and insurance.
5) Before hiring a contractor, ask for a copy of his or her current license (if applicable). If your state has a
Contractor's Licensing Board, always check the Board to make sure that the contractor is licensed and in good
standing. Check with the Attorney General or Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints filed
against this contractor.
Be Wary
6) Always be suspicious of contractors who solicit work from you, especially those who seek construction work
on a door-to-door basis.
7) Always be cautious of whom you let into your home. Sometimes contractors may be sizing up your house
for burglary, or they may distract you while their partners steal your belongings.
8) Watch out for contractors who offer a price that's too good to be true. Low bids usually come from novice
or desperate contractors and usually result in markups, change orders, and overall shoddy work.
9) Be wary of any free termite, radon, or lead tests offered by contractors. Contractors sometimes use tactics
like bogus meters or will sprinkle sawdust and even a few termites bodies around to convince you of your
termite problem.
10) Be suspicious of contractors promising low prices on products. When these products are found
unsuitable for your project which can be the case, a contractor then may use high pressure sales tactics to
sell you a better product at a drastic mark-up.
11) When disasters like floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes strike, be careful of the scam artists they attract.
There is always a great deal of repair work to be done after a natural disaster - and overwhelmed homeowners
are ideal victims for fraudulent contractors. Be suspicious of contractors and repairmen who act as if they will
toss all their work aside to solve your problems.
12) In the aftermath of a natural disaster, you should be especially wary of price gouging. Get at least three
different bids before hiring a contractor.
Get It In Writing
13) Always sign a contractor, and make sure change orders are in writing.
14) Make sure your contractor is using quality products, which you can specify in your contract. Contractors
could use substandard products in hidden or less visible areas such as insulation, wiring, and roofing. Often
the cheap products are not discovered until years later, when there is a problem.
15) Do not fall victim to intimidation. Halfway through a project, disreputable contractors can jack up prices
and intimidate homeowners into paying extra money to get the job done. Many consumers will pay more to
complete a job, or to avoid lawsuits or sabotage.
16) Beware of contractors who make extra work. Once the job is underway, these contractors will try to
convince you that they can't "do it right" unless you authorize additional projects. Also be wary of contractors
hired to work on one part of your home who notice a "problem" in another.
17) After a job is completed, as for old parts to make sure replacements really were installed.
Pay for Finished Work
18) Don't pay for a job up front. Never pay for more than 30 percent of the estimated cost in advance. Be
sure to ask if there is a price for an estimate.
19) Before you pay, make sure the work is done properly, or get an inspection. Be sure to check the
identification of all "inspectors."
20) Pay by check, never by cash.
| CALL Complete Home Services at (615) 349-0909 |
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