Have you ever had a problem with a home contractor? You’re not alone. A friend of mine paid over seven thousand dollars to have his roof repaired, only to have it leak the next time it rained. The contractor made excuses, but never did a thing about it – and my friend was an attorney! To make situations like this less likely, avoid the following mistakes when hiring a contractor.
1. Not being clear about what you want. When you don’t know what you want, you might not like what you get. If you change your mind and change the job halfway through, the contract – and price – will change. Hint: it won’t get cheaper. Be clear on what you want done.
2. Not getting it in writing. Hearing “I didn’t say I was going to include the gutters,” could be a problem, or you could point to the contract.
3. No dates in the contract. Do you want the job finished this year? Be sure you have it in the contract.
4. Too much money up front. Deposits are a reasonable request when contracts are signed. The home contractor may need money for materials prior to the start date. But never pay in full before the job is...