BEFORE HIRING A CONTRACTOR

Obtain at least three bids and compare them. Make sure the contractor's bid specifies the materials to be used, price per square foot, amount of square foot in the quote, etc. Keep in mind that the lowest bid is not always the best.

Find out who will be doing the actual work - the contractor's employees or subcontractors. If the firm uses sub-contractors for some of their work you will need to research both the reputation of the sub-contractor, as well as the contractor. You also want to determine who will be responsible for problems down the road. Issues such as these should be resolved before construction begins.

Do not be pressured into signing a contract right away. Take your time and review the contract carefully. If you do not understand the contract, do not sign it!

Make sure all warranties for labor and materials are in a written contract which must include your rights as a consumer.

There are many contractors in this business who create beautiful and innovative designs and execute them flawlessly. Unfortunately there are infinitely more companies, some that have been in business for many years that fall into the categories we've mentioned here. These companies will continue to survive and thrive on the uninformed and trusting consumer. Don't be the next victim! Do your homework before you hire a contractor. Check references, check the Better Business Bureau and check contractor's accreditations. Make sure your contractor has insurance in case damage is done to your home and check that they pay into Workman's Compensation. You, as the homeowner, are the project owner and are responsible for the safety of workers on your site.

Remember, what these companies do is nothing short of CRIMINAL! They may not end up behind bars, but the more consumers are informed, the more likely these disreputable companies will end up out of business.

Interlock installation is a lot more involved than most people think. The paving stones we all see —and admire — are actually the final “dressing” or surface, which give no hint whatsoever to all the invisible preparation and expertise that goes into the work. Aside from a proper base, the most important part of any interlocking stone project is proper grade and adequate drainage.

Pooling or stagnant water is anathema to the paving industry. Particularly in our climate, its freeze-thaw action can lift and destroy paving. Therefore, when you’re considering paving your drive or patio, ensure the contractors plan your site with drainage clearly in mind.

Experts believe that the right landscaping can add as much as 20% to your home's value It's what sets a house apart, since most people are planning to renovate when they move in anyway. An eye-catching front, in particular, can help sell your house quicker.

ESCALATING COSTS

 This should be considered CRIMINAL! It's amazing how many people fall prey to this type of contractor. Although there may be certain situations that warrant altering the agreed-upon quote (finding a buried stumps, large boulders, or unstable ground in the excavation area), some contractors will routinely find ways to ask for more and more money. Insist that your contractor provide you with a plan, preferably one to scale, of what the finished work will look like. Understand your project scope, ask questions, and get the quote in writing. If a contractor can't provide you with a simple work plan and a solid quote, look elsewhere.

LARGE DEPOSIT

Some contractors may ask for a large deposit when signing a contract. You should NEVER give a contractor more than fifteen percent of the work being performed! We've come across countless customers who have handed over up to 50% of the project cost only to have their contractor mysteriously disappear or go out of business. A deposit is only required as an act of good faith; to secure your position on a contractor's list of projects. On rare occasions, with large projects, it's acceptable for a contractor to ask for small payments as and when project phases are completed. If this is the case, know ahead of time when your contractor will ask for payment and what, specifically, you'll be paying for.

INEXPERIENCED CONTRACTOR

Many people fall victim to the "well intentioned" but inexperienced contractor. In fact, this is probably the most prevalent problem consumers are faced with. There are few regulations and licensing requirements for starting an interlock business. More and more ill-prepared and ill-trained entrepreneurs take advantage of the loose regulations and blindly dive into this business. The uninformed homeowner is all too often subjected to the financial consequences of their inexperience.

These contractors improperly build large stone supporting structures (e.g. steps, raised decks, etc.) against your home without the proper protection or without following proper building specifications. Quite often this results in thousands of dollars in damage to your homes' exterior siding or brick walls. These contractors also use smaller garden wall blocks to build steps that are too high or too narrow to safely negotiate. They build three foot high raised decks and retaining walls with garden wall blocks--blocks designed to hold garden soil pressure only.

CONSUMER TIPS

Tips to finding a qualified contractor

Just knowing some things about a contractor isn't enough. Your project is a significant investment and should always be comfortable with the contractor that you hire. In order to ensure a competent company; you should take the time to investigate their complaint history. This one call will provide you with everything you need to make an informed decision.

To narrow down possible candidates, request each contractor’s business license number and check it out with the local licensing office. The law requires contractors to have a license. By contacting your municipal licensing bureau you can confirm that the company has a license, how long it has been in business.

Ask each candidate how long they have worked in the area, and whether or not they have experience with projects similar to your own. If so, get the names of homeowners they completed the projects for and contact them. Verify the information, and ask about the quality of work, and whether or not they would ever use the services of the contractor again.

Do not be concerned about possibly offending the contractor by requesting such information. Reputable contractors will not be offended because they will have nothing to hide.

The only way for project bids to be assessed fairly and accurately is insisting on “Identical project quotes” in writing. Be sure the quote includes the type and quality of the material, the total square footage and the price per sq’. Different estimators will have different total square footage, but they should be close to each other and the written price per square foot will save you a lot of frustration down the road.

When going over bids, remember that the lowest bid is not always the best. Examine bids carefully to determine which contractor provides the best service, selects the highest quality materials for your project, is most experienced, and seems most capable of completing the project to meet your expectations, in the best timeline possible.

BE AWARE THAT:

THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT ORDERS THAT THE CONTRACT MUST INCLUDE A CLAUSE THAT INFORMS THE CUSTOMER HE/SHE HAS A 10 DAY PERIOD WHERE THE CUSTOMER CAN CHANGE THEIR MIND FOR ANY REASON AND RECEIVE THE FULL DEPOSIT WITH NO PENALTY. THIS CLAUSE MUST BE IN BOLD AND IN A LARGER FONT THAN THE REST OF THE CONTRACT. IF THIS IS MISSING YOU WOULD WANT TO STEER CLEAR OF THAT CONTRACTOR.

Once everything has been agreed upon, your next step is to get everything in writing. Contracts should be detailed and specific. Insist that both the contractor and you sign the contract. Beware of contractors who are vague.
The piece of paper, or contract, describing work to be performed, detailing the project, and quoting a price for the project, is a legal document, binding to all parties who sign it. For that reason, make sure you read the contract carefully before signing it. Make sure all aspects of the project are accurately described, and that everything promised and agreed upon is included. Attaching a signed detailed diagram is perfect for eliminating any confusion when the project(s) start. This is extremely important as weeks or months may elapse between signing and project start. What was discussed and what was agreed to can blurred.

Never sign any document you have not read carefully, or that contains only vague references to vital aspects of the project. Once the contract has been signed, the contractor is not legally bound to promises not included in the contract. If something detailed in the contract is not clear to you, ask for an explanation and request that a revision be made to the contract.