Home Improvement Information
Design It Yourself. Do It Yourself
Bettering the Chances of Successful Repairs
(January 31) -- Residential renovation can turn into a nightmare, if a
homeowner hires an unreliable contractor who can't, or won't, finish a job
on schedule. The relationship between clients and contractors can become so
strained that facilitators are needed to anticipate and solve problems,
check bills, and sign off on work.
To avoid potential problems early on, homeowners should use a contractor
recommended by their architect, instead of one chosen at random from the
Yellow Pages. The next step is to determine how long the architect and
contractor have known each other and if legal charges have been filed
against either of them.
Background checks should reveal the company or individuals' specialties and
how long they have been in business. Following up with references will also
provide some measure of reassurance. Moreover, homeowners should ensure that
all documents and licenses are valid.
Furthermore, it's important to know the names of the on-site supervisor and
subcontractors. Finally, because communication is essential to good
client-contractor relations, homeowners should make sure in advance that the
contractor knows what the project entails.
Source: Washington Times (01/30/02);
Geracimos, Ann