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Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor: Don’t Get Nailed  

With the economy booming, more people are having work done on their houses, and contractors -- including builders, plumbers, electricians and carpenters  -- are facing heavy demand for their services.  Not surprisingly, a strong market attracts many unscrupulous contractors who take down payments and then skip town, start but never complete projects, or perform shoddy work.

Whenever this happens, we find that problems increase, and we have seen a jump in the number of complaints against contractors at the Consumer Assistance Council.

  Here are some suggestions for avoiding problems with your work.   

Successful work with contractors starts with selection of a reputable contractor.   You should check references on any contractor before beginning negotiations.  The Massachusetts Division of Registration licenses contractors and you can check the current status of an individual or company.  Always get at least two written estimates from professionals of your own choosing.  Each estimate should describe the work, the price, the responsibility for cleaning up, and the charges for any additional work.  It is best if you know someone who has had work done successfully and is willing to recommend his or her contractor to you; if possible, take a look at work performed by the contractor.

With times as busy as they are you may have trouble finding more than one contractor to bid on your work; but once you have obtained bids and decided on which contractor to use, then here are three important things you should do to avoid problems.

 1.      We have found that the best way to avoid problems is to be very careful when negotiating your deal, and the single most important part of the deal is the payment schedule.  Never give a contractor more than one-third of the total bill up front, and schedule additional payments to coincide with completion of the work as it progresses.   Owing the contractor money is the best leverage you can get if anything goes wrong.

 2.      The next most important way to avoid problems is to put everything in writing.  Do NOT rely on verbal agreements.  People remember verbal agreements differently and you do not want to get into a "he said/she said" battle.  Write it down.  Be explicit as to what is to be done and when.   Specify materials or products to be used. Read or have an attorney or someone you trust read everything before you sign.  Keep a copy of everything you sign.

3.      Sometimes the hardest part of getting work done on your house is getting it done on time. Contractors are busy.  Their suppliers are busy.  They often cannot get the help they need when they need it.  Try to make the schedule as reasonable as possible, but do make a schedule.  You may wish to include bonus payments for completion of work at various points.   This is probably the most effective thing you could do to insure on-time performance. 

If you are careful to be very clear as to what is to be done, what materials are to be used, and how payments are to be made, your chances of having problems will be significantly reduced.  But if, despite your best efforts, you still have problems, let us know and we will do what we can to mediate your dispute.  Request a copy of the Attorney General’s booklet “Home Improvements.”