| The world of contracting is a very dirty world | | | | don't even remember what they saw until the |
| indeed. According to the study done by | | | | project is done, and unless the brand and specific |
| Transparency International ( a global anti | | | | details are in the contract, you don't have any |
| corruption think tank) and The Daily Beast, | | | | legal recourse. So the fix? Make sure the contract |
| Construction landed on the #4 spot in most | | | | is SPECIFIC! |
| corrupt industries. So when you get your | | | | 3.Spiking The Deal: This trick is Low, so low it has |
| bathroom remodeling done, BEWARE! A large | | | | its own industry nickname. What happens here is |
| portion of contractors are around to help, but an | | | | that a contractor will low ball the price thousands |
| even larger portion are out just to get your | | | | of dollars below their competitors, knowing that |
| wallet. Here are five ways that contractors use | | | | most people don't think about how it is possible to |
| to take advantage of naïve homeowners. | | | | do that, and ultimately sign the deal. Now after |
| 1.The Two-Thirds Start: This slimy technique | | | | the dirty deed is done, I can assure you it will not |
| involves getting two-thirds of the money for the | | | | be done dirt cheap. What I mean by that, is after |
| job, and then doing a little work, an never | | | | the demolition is completed, you are legally |
| showing back up. Here's what happens, you want | | | | married to the contractor, with little hope of |
| to get (lets just say for the sake of this article) a | | | | divorce. And unless there is nothing in the |
| bathroom renovated, and call up a contractor to | | | | contract about a no extra charges garuntee, |
| give you an estimate. You love this guy, he is | | | | there is no reason why they will not start finding |
| charismatic, helpful, knowledgeable, and the price is | | | | problems, and submitting change orders, making |
| really good. At the end of the presentation you | | | | the price go right back up to where it originally |
| decide to pull the trigger, and close the deal. | | | | was supposed to be. The Fix? Make sure there is |
| "Great!" He says, and proceeds to tell you the | | | | a No Extra Charges clause in the contract, so |
| payment schedule, a third for a down payment, a | | | | they can't submit change orders if they mess up. |
| third when he starts the job, and a third when he | | | | 4.Lack of Workman's Compensation Insurance: |
| is done. Well, that sounds fair right? Evenly spaced | | | | Now this little trick is really hard to solve, but I |
| and it seems like the ducks are in a row... | | | | guess explaining it will help. If you hire a contractor |
| WRONG! Here is what happens, you pay both | | | | that is not a well known, brand name, reputable |
| two-thirds of the cost before he even swings a | | | | contractor, you run the risk of them not carrying |
| hammer, and you now have no leverage, he can | | | | workman's comp. Insurance. What that means to |
| come and go as he pleases, working quite slowly, | | | | you is that if one of those workers get seriously |
| aggravating you until you either fire him (which | | | | hurt, legally, you are liable, especially if it disables |
| means you lost a lot of your money) or conform | | | | the person. So make sure you hire good |
| to his will since you have no leverage. Now most | | | | contractors, and If you have a bad feeling, ask to |
| likely, you will end up trying to sue him, but what | | | | see his insurance certificate. |
| you don't know is that about 8 out of ten victims | | | | 5.Short Warranties: Now what happens here is |
| of home improvement never receive any kind of | | | | that contractors will give you a one year |
| retribution for any of the crimes committed. So | | | | warranty on the work they are doing. Now, that |
| to help yourself out, make sure the payment | | | | is WAY to short for any remodeling job. The |
| schedule is a third down, a third halfway through | | | | project should last as long as you live there. AT |
| the project, and a third at completion, and you will | | | | LEAST 30 years. This should be a no brainer, if |
| be ok. | | | | you don't get a warranty that is at least 15 years |
| 2.The Unspecific Contract: This scam is so easily | | | | in duration, don't do it. Two years down the road, |
| avoidable, but people get hit with this all the time. | | | | whatever it is that you have remodeled will fall |
| Salesmen come into your home and bring you | | | | apart from the inside out. |
| through an emotionally chearged sales | | | | I hope that you take this message, and educate |
| presentation, showing you pictures of great high | | | | yourself on remodeling, and how to purchase |
| quality products, and nice looking appliances. Now, | | | | home improvement. The sad truth is, people buy |
| in the contract, they just list things like, a white, | | | | home improvement like they buy clothing or tires. |
| right handed bathtub, or a 32 inch wide vanity. | | | | This is not the way to do it, you need to buy it |
| Now what happens is that when the installers get | | | | like you would buy a car or house, with lots and |
| to your home, they install cheaper materials than | | | | lots of good thorough research. |
| you asked for, and most of the time, consumers | | | | |