It is that time of year where home improvements are done and when our office takes a lot of calls for jobs that were not done satisfactorily or not done at all after taking some if not all of the home owner’s money up front.  From our experience in seeing these cases we can offer a few timely reminders and tips that will save you hours of headaches, hundreds of dollars and a visit to your attorney’s office.

            First, get a good idea of the job you want done.  Plan ahead by taking the time to write up all the details of what you want done if needed draw or sketch out your ideas into a rough blue print.  Cutouts from magazines, newspapers, and other sources can be a great visual aid and adds clarity.  Additionally, call the city and find out what inspections will be needed, the costs and time the city needs for the scheduling and doing the inspection and the time the contractor will take in getting your job done.  Many cities have web pages where you can find the information on building and remodeling codes, inspections, and costs. 

            Second, contact three or more companies to bid the work.  Provide them with a copy of your plan and have them provide you a bid to do the work, in addition to several references.  One reference should be at least a year old, one should be a job that has been recently finished, and one should be a job that is on going.  A good contractor that does a good job does not mind your request for referrals, it helps sell his services.  However, a contractor that does inferior work will not and always has good excuses for not providing the referrals. Call the contractor’s main office, obtain their fax number, you will want to communicate any changes in plans, also obtain their business card, and know where they are located how long they have been in the area. Checking with the city can be a valuable resource; the city can tell you if the contractors have requested permits and inspections on prior jobs.           

Third, make your own contract up to be signed by the contractor.  This allows everyone to have a clear understanding of the job and what is inspected. Have all the contractors provide you with the names of their insurance carriers for injuries and damages on the job.  Have them agree, in writing, to be responsible for all injuries and damages as well as providing for all required inspections and permits from the city.  Further, an agreement should be in place for changes in plans to be written and agreed to if the changes would alter costs, and/or quality of the materials selected. A time should be clearly stated when the job will start as well as a time for completion of the job. 

Fourth, have an agreed payment system in place.  There are several options that can be used, but never pay in advance, regardless of the offer or savings.  A common practice is paying 30% upon the start of the project, 30% at the mid way point, 30% when completed and holding the final 10% for final cleanup and final inspection. There are always little things that appear after several days and a good contractor does not mind returning to do them.

This is not a solution to all the problems that can arise but it will put you on the right track.  Put it all in writing and remember that no deal is so good that a decision has to be made today. 

Gregory L. Dorst and Associates

Gregory L Dorst and T. Hardy Thomas

5152 Rufe Snow Suite 302

North Richland Hills, Texas 76180

(817) 428-5400