| In the game of poker, a "tell" is an unintentional | | | | 7. An 84-Page Contract With 83 Pages of Fine Print: |
| give-away by an opponent. Maybe the player always | | | | This is just as bad as the "no contract" guy. You don't |
| scratches her ear when she has a good hand, or | | | | need a lengthy contract. What work will be done? |
| maybe he looks at his hole cards three times before | | | | When will the contractor be paid? When will the work |
| betting, indicating a lack of confidence - perhaps. | | | | be completed? What materials will be used? That |
| "Tells" are not guarantees, but they are indications and | | | | about covers it. |
| signals, so here are my favorite ten home | | | | A contract should be short and sweet. It should also |
| improvement tells to help you sort the good from the | | | | be crystal clear. If you don't know what you're signing, |
| bad. | | | | don't sign it until you do - until you really do. |
| 1. Look at the contractors truck: | | | | 8. Is the contractor ready to discuss your project? |
| When I hire a contractor, this is the first thing I check. A | | | | It sounds like an obvious question, but I've heard any |
| truck that's clean and orderly indicates someone who | | | | number of horror stories. For example, a friend of mine |
| cares about the impression he makes on others. On | | | | wanted to put in a flagstone patio so he called a |
| the other hand, if the truck is cluttered, dirty and leaking | | | | couple of rock workers who do this kind of thing. The |
| oil, it "tells" you something about the character of that | | | | first contractor drove up, met my friend, shook hands |
| contractor, and who would you rather have paint your | | | | and got down to business. He took measurements, |
| house? | | | | performed calculations and left an estimate with the |
| 2. Look at the contractors business card: | | | | buyer - a rather high estimate, or so my friend thought. |
| Doesn't have one? The first thing people do after | | | | The second contractors estimate was $1200 lower, so |
| going into business is get their business cards printed | | | | easy choice right? Wrong! The second contractor |
| up. Maybe this guy doesn't want you to contact him | | | | showed up and asked my friend if he could borrow a |
| after the work is done. Check for a local address and | | | | tape measure! Are you kidding me? This landscaping |
| telephone number. Forget the 800 number answered in | | | | contractor shows up to price a job and wants to |
| Taiwan. You want to be able to reach the boss when | | | | borrow a tape measure? But wait. He also asked to |
| problems arise. | | | | borrow a pen and a piece of paper to record the |
| 3. Look at the contractor: | | | | measurements. Then, it took him a week to get back |
| True story. I have a friend back east who was having | | | | with an estimate. |
| a termite problem. So he called one of these big | | | | Even though the first contractor had the higher bid, my |
| franchises (you would know the name) and signed up | | | | friend paid the extra and now has a great looking patio |
| for a years worth of service. Well, when the service | | | | where our families can watch the sunsets. It's this kind |
| tech showed up, my friend almost keeled over. First, | | | | of little thing that tells a whole lot. |
| the man was extremely overweight. He was also | | | | 9. Is the contractor professional in demeanor? |
| limping badly from an earlier injury. | | | | No, you're not going to marry the guy, but does he |
| Now, this is someone who is going to be climbing | | | | conduct himself as a professional? Here's a story I |
| around the attic, up and down narrow stairs and going | | | | picked up from one of my customers. |
| into dark corners where termites lived. The guy was a | | | | This lady needed a new roof. An easy, simple job. She |
| walking lawsuit waiting to happen! Is the contractor | | | | called a few contractors. The ones who did not return |
| presentable? Maybe not spotless after a hard day at | | | | her calls were dumped immediately. But two did call |
| work, but does he look put together? Would you want | | | | back. The first roofer showed up an hour late with his |
| him hanging from a ladder or walking across your | | | | 3-year-old and his very friendly Golden Retriever. The |
| steep roof? Remember, even if the contractor carries | | | | man was so concerned about his child and his dog, the |
| insurance, you may still find yourself in the middle of a | | | | woman was certain he did not get the job specs right. |
| lawsuit if someone is seriously injured. In this litigious | | | | The second contractor showed up in a new pick-up. |
| society, they sue everybody involved. | | | | He also came with a clipboard to take careful notes. |
| 4. The Missed Appointment: | | | | He offered some suggestions, brought samples for |
| If the contractor sets a time to meet with you, but | | | | color choice and tried his best to work within the |
| doesn't show up or even call, well, how easy do you | | | | woman and her vacation schedule. Guess who got |
| think it' will be to track down this guy when there is a | | | | the job. |
| problem with your home improvement project. dump | | | | No, you are not going to marry the contractor, but you |
| him. | | | | are going to be partners, at least for the duration of |
| 5. The High Pressure Approach: | | | | this project. Picking a contractor is a lot like picking a |
| This is a real tell. The contractor or rep really puts the | | | | partner. Choose well; snooze well. |
| pressure on to sign a contract. The fact is, really good | | | | 10. Follow your instincts: |
| contractors don't have to pressure you. They don't | | | | You know when something just doesn't feel right? |
| need your work. They're booked months in advance. | | | | You can't put your finger on it, but if your instincts tell |
| There is no deal you can't walk away from. Never | | | | you something is out of whack. Trust those feelings. |
| give in to the high-pressure sales pitch. Chances are, | | | | There are dozens (if not more) contractors in your |
| you'll get hurt. | | | | area. If something bothers you, even if you can't quite |
| 6. No Contract: | | | | describe it to yourself or put it into words so your |
| "Oh, we don't need a contract for a small job like this." | | | | spouse will understand, go with your gut. I've found, |
| Does that sound like something a responsible business | | | | when selecting trades people for work on my own |
| person would say? A contract protects both parties, | | | | home, that my instincts are almost always right. Yours |
| so any contractor who says you don't need a | | | | should be too. |
| contract is a contractor you show to the door. | | | | |