How to . . . /Survive a remodeling project
Do your homework before starting home renovation
Home remodeling can be so traumatic that one Buffalo-area homeowner shifted his whole family into a rented condo until the job was done.
Not all of us can afford to go to a hotel, but home renovation may become more attractive now that getting a whole new house may be less of an option with tight credit.
You want to protect yourself from guys like the Kenmore home-improvement contractor who was arrested not long ago, accused of repeatedly pressuring an 88-year-old widow into paying more than $80,000 for home improvements that were never done, or done shabbily. Here’s how:
1. Prior to hiring someone to remodel, know exactly what you want. Write it down as a list, and be precise. This will help you to easily negotiate with different contractors — to lock in solid prices, and avoid some of those nasty surprises. Having a list will also aid in sorting out unethical contractors who may try to talk you into having more done than you need or want.
2. Call your local building and codes office before beginning.
3. Know what permits you’ll need. Though a good contractor should be aware of necessary permits and inspections, you should know them, too — just in case.
4. Look at several contractors, shop around. Get quoted prices for the work you want done, write them down, compare and contrast.
5. Find out the proposed time-line for when each contractor can start and finish the project. Get it in writing. Even when you do get firm promises, it’s not a bad idea to double the time the contractor quoted, and add a day. You never know what’s lurking behind those walls.
6. Don’t be shy about getting references, and calling or visiting them. Ask friends and neighbors about contractors they used and how satisfied they were with results. Most homeowners are happy to give you references on their contractor. Speak to former customers, both recent and those who have been living with their improvements for a few years. Then you’ll know how well they held up. Do your homework or you’ll have to do more work on your home!
7. The Better Business Bureau can confirm if a contractor is accredited.
8. Get insurance proof. According to New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo’s new Web site exposing unscrupulous contractors, if a worker gets injured, or damage is caused on your property, you could be held liable if the contractor lacks proper insurance. So, make sure the contractor is insured. And get a phone number to reach your contractor.
9. Click on Cuomo’s Web site nyknowyourcontractor.com for a listing of local contractors with judgments or substantiated complaints against them. One unfortunate homeowner, along with having the saw-dust swept up, also had a valuable baseball collection cleaned out. Then there was the Clarence family who had an original Pan American Exposition photo swiped while they trusted a workman alone in their home.
10. Cuomo also warns against paying the full-price upfront. A Williamsville woman hired some workers to fix her roof, admiring the work they did in her neighborhood. Ignoring the advice of her family, she paid the full $1,000 before they finished. The workers left their old ladders at her house, never to return.
11. When you establish a payment schedule, stick to it. This might include an initial down payment and subsequent incremental payments until the work is done. Withhold final payment until all the work is finished and all required inspections and certificates of occupancy are finalized. There have been contractors with good references, who failed to do the final 10 percent.
12. Get it in writing — state law mandates that contractors provide written contracts for their work. Your contract should include a time-line for work to be finished, payment schedule, and as many details as possible about the project, like brands or types of materials. On big projects, engineer or architect plans should specify virtually every detail of a project. Know where your money’s going!
13. Realize that contractors are required by state law to either: a) put your payments into an escrow account, using it just for your job until it’s pretty much done — plus they must let you know where your money will be held in escrow. Or b) prove they have bond insurance to protect your cash investment. Ask for proof of what option they use before hiring.
14. Don’t do business with a contractor unwilling to meet any of the previous conditions. If he, or she, doesn’t meet the above criteria, research some other businesses. Even if the contractor seems reputable, it’s not worth the heartache of sinking your savings into a lousy job.
Tips and warnings
• During your home-improvement project, try to keep at least one room tidy, so you can escape the dust and chaos if needed.
• If you have to dig, don’t rely on a computer system for flagging your utilities. One area homeowner did last summer, and a utility line was nearly hit — that could have been deadly. With the sinking-home situation in Amherst, contractors are having to dig deeper. And you don’t want to dig deeper into your wallet.
Resources
nyknowyourcontractor.com
“Remodel This! A Woman’s Guide to Planning and Surviving the Madness of a Home Renovation.”
“Sheetrock & Shellac: A Thinking Person’s Guide to the Art and Science of Home Improvement.”
