Hail has wreaked havoc on many Colorado roofs. Please protect yourself from unscrupulous con artists presenting themselves as contractors. Disasters bring them out and into your neighborhood, looking to prey upon unsuspecting people. Beware of trucks with magnets on the side of the truck and out-of-state plates. Hire a reputable local contractor. Read, "How to Hire a Contractor" below.
Roof leak? We can find it and repair it so it does not leak again!
We can winterize your evaporative cooler, insulate around pipes, and hang holiday decorations up. We have the ladders.
Is winter taking a toll on your home's exterior? In good weather, we can make any needed repairs and for a fresh look, we can power wash and paint the exterior so it'll be lookin' good. Your decks, too!
We can also caulk around your doors and windows, indoors and out, to reduce your heating and cooling bills.
If you don't have a programmable thermostat, we can install one.
Keeping the heat turned down when you're not home or at night when you're sleeping under warm blankets will save energy.
Did mice get into the house this winter? We can find the places they got in and seal them up to keep the critters outside where they belong. The way we do it, they will not get back in.
How to Hire a Contractor
· Do not hire someone who comes to your door to solicit your business. There are so-called contractors who are often from out-of-state who prey upon unsuspecting people, often targeting the elderly. They’ll tell you they’re doing some work in your neighborhood, just happen to have some asphalt left over, and can pave your driveway for very little money. Or put on a new roof. Whatever the story, say “no thanks” and shut the door. If you fall for this scam, you will get a poor job – or no job at all – and be out of your hard-earned money. These types of predators often come around in the Spring, but it’s best to be cautious at any time of the year.
· If you need or want to have some work done, go to the trusty Yellow Pages or the Better Business Bureau’s website. There you will find a list of member companies, along with information like how long they have been members. You can read their Reliability Report and see whether or not they’ve been awarded a Gold Star Award. This will tell you whether or not there have been complaints made about the company.
· We highly recommend that you do business with companies who are members in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. Although we had been members of the Denver/Boulder BBB for many years when we owned an auto shop, when we started a new business, they insisted we be incorporated a year before they would permit us to re-join! That means that “fly by night” companies are not generally members of the BBB.
· BBB members agree to abide by binding arbitration if there is a dispute between the company and a customer, which protects the customer. Most good companies will do whatever it takes to satisfy a customer or arrive at a reasonable compromise to avoid getting to the point where arbitration would be needed. Still, it’s good to know that option is available.
· Ask for references and actually call at least 2 or 3 of the company’s customers. Ask questions like:
o Were you satisfied with the work they did?
o Did they do the work for the price you were quoted?
o Did they do the work in a timely manner?
o Did they clean up after themselves or did they leave your house a mess?
o Would you hire them again?
· Ask to see work they have performed, especially if you are doing a large project like a kitchen remodel.
· Ask to see photos of their work.
· A good contractor will not be offended by your questions and scrutiny. They will welcome it. If a contractor is reluctant to answer your questions or provide you with numerous references, go elsewhere.
· Avoid going with someone who’s a friend of neighbor who’s doing the work “on the side”. Chances are their work will not be professional, they will not know how to estimate the job accurately, they will not be licensed and insured, they will not warranty their work, and you have very little recourse except for small claims court if the job goes wrong.
· Avoid going with the lowest bidder. Some contractors will give you a low bid to get the job, but after the job has begun, they’ll tell you that they need to raise the price because they failed to take a number of things into account. If a bid seems too low – too good to be true – it probably is. Sometimes, you really do get what you pay for.
· Get a proposal in writing, and you and the contractor should both sign it and you should retain a copy. Understand that if you make changes to the project along the way, the price will change, sometimes higher or sometimes lower, depending on the changes. Still, the job as outlined in the proposal or contract should cost the same as what was quoted.
· The written proposal or contract should state whether or not the work will be warrantied – and for how long.
· For a large job, you may be asked to pay a deposit, with the balance to be paid in full when the job is completed. This arrangement should be spelled out in the written contract or proposal.
· Under no circumstances should you pay for the entire cost of the work before the work is completed – this is true whether the job is installing a ceiling fan or remodeling your bathroom. There is no reason why someone should take your money and tell you they’ll be back later to get the job done. If someone insists you pay them before the job is done, tell them you will need to find another contractor.
· Ask the contractor to provide you with a Certificate of Liability Insurance. Their insurance company will mail or fax you one.
· Do not do business with a contractor who insists you pay cash. A reputable contractor will not do that.
· One thing that we do is run criminal background checks on the people who work for us. It’s unfortunate that this has become necessary, but this way, we – and you – know that the people who will be working in your home or business can be trusted. Often construction or remodeling will be done when you’re not at home, so this is important. When hiring a contractor, ask if they do that.
· Finally, trust your instincts. If you do not have a good feeling about someone, keep looking.
