Hey, everyone!! I'm Charlene. My husband and I have owned a home inspection business for about two years now, and we have seen some very interesting things.
I've also noticed a few things that are really easy fixes that Moms and Dads can do themselves to save money, make your home more comfortable, and most importantly safer for you and your little ones.
Part 2: Selecting a contractor
As home owners, we all get to the point where we have to hire someone to do something in the home. Whether its a plumber, electrician, or HVAC (air conditioning) service, it happens. There are a lot of things you can do yourself, but things like major plumbing repair, furnaces, and especially electricity, are best left to the professionals.
Now, we all have that feeling when we hire one of these people (and especially when we see the bill) that we may have been taken advantage of just a little (or as my husband puts it, "Ripped from stem to stern")
The solution? Take a few minutes to do your research before you hire any contractor.
1) Take a look at their online reviews. Caveat: A lot of those online review sites allow contractors to pay money to have negative reviews deleted, or they highlight only negative or only positive reviews depending on whether or not the contractor pays to be on their "pro" site. So, take most reviews with a grain of salt. This is the beginning of this process, not the end. Many people get ripped off by going with the one with the most "stars" and thinking they will get good quality work at a fair price. Neither of these are guaranteed if you just leave it there.
2) Talk to your neighbors!! They have had the exact same problems with their homes and will happily give you a recommendation (or a caution against) one contractor or another. Your neighbor will probably have their contractor's card handy for you to take. Once you have a list of two or three people that come highly recommended, you are ready to move on to...
3) GET QUOTES!! Any and all reputable contractors will come to your house, see what they need to see, and give you a written quote for free, and they will honor that price for six months to a year. DO NOT ask for a "ball park" number over the phone. Anyone who is willing to do that most likely won't do a good job and it will be a waste of money at any price.
There are two things you want to ask for in a quote: first, you want to ask for "scope of work" this tells them that you want to know exactly what will be done and exactly what each item will cost. Most contractors also give a timeframe when you ask for this, so you will know how many people will be in your house (sub-contractors, assistants, etc...) and how long they will be there and what kind of warranty they have to back up their work. The other thing you want to ask for is how long the price is good for, and have them write that date down on the quote page (price valid until xx/xx). This is a great tool to let you know how long you have to get financing, save up, or get your general ducks in a row before you commit to the work.
Once you have AT LEAST two quotes, sit down together with your significant other and determine which is the best one (hint: it's not always the cheapest). It is very important to determine which contractor will give you the best value for your money, offer the best warranty, and be done in a reasonable amount of time. Then, you can make an informed decision and be very happy with the results.
Now, I know this sounds like a lot, but when my husband and I do this, especially for big jobs, it doesn't take very long at all, and we are consistently happy with the results. When we cut corners because we are in a rush, we almost always end up regretting it.
If you are buying or selling a home and need a home inspection in the Greater Los Angeles County Area, please call us at (626) 399-8359 to schedule your home inspection. We look forward to meeting you!!
Next time, Repair or Replace? When is the right time to get rid of that old appliance?
Until then, Happy Homeowners, Have a Wonderful Day!!
Charlene
