Contractor Cases
|
|
Victorinox 12-Inch Granton Edge Slicing Knife with Fibrox Handle $39.95 Nothing is worse than going to cut with your cutlery, and having the handle slip around in your hand. To combat this potential for injury, Victorinox has created this Fibrox beef slicing knife. The Fibrox® handle is textured and provides a firm grip, even when wet, and does not slip or slide around. It is comfortable and fits naturally to the shape of your hand, and provides an attractive and mod… |
|
|
Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Hand Mixer with storage Case and Soft Srape $26.15 Softscrape beaters won’t scrap bowls or non-stick pots and dishwasher-safe290-watt peak power with 6 speeds and QuickBurst buttonBowl Rest featureSnap-on storage case for accessories and cord4 3/8″ W x 10″ H x 9 3/8″ D weighs 4.24 lbs.Includes metal whisk and dough hooks… |
|
|
Sephra Belgian Milk Chocolate $199.99 With incredible Belgian taste and the same quality of Sephra’s Premium Fondue Chocolate, Sephra Belgian Milk Chocolate by Callebaut boasts the intensely rich chocolate flavor and aroma that makes Belgian chocolate the most sought-after chocolate in the world. This special recipe made by Callebaut is 100 percent pure and does not require the addition of thinning agents or oil. Deliciously ri… |
|
|
Dewalt DPG82-11C Concealer Clear Anti-Fog Dual Mold Safety Goggle $8.50 … |
|
|
3M 8511 Particulate Sanding Respirator N95 with Valve, 10-Pack $13.05 Uniquely designed to help provide comfortable, reliable worker protection. Ideally suited for work settings that involve heat, humidity or long periods of wear. Workplace applications include grinding, sanding, sweeping, bagging and other dusty/hot operations. Features the 3M Cool Flow Exhalation Valve and adjustable M-noseclip to help provide a custom fit and secure seal…. |
|
|
Sylvania 15172 65-Watt 130-Volt BR30 Indoor Flood Light, 6 Pack $10.25 … |
|
|
America, Inc. $1.99 … |
|
|
Sanyo NEW 1500 eneloop 4 Pack AAA Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries $14.99 RECHARGEABLE UP TO 1500XLOW SELF DISCHARGE BATTERIES MAINTAIN 75% CHARGE AFTER 3 YEARS OF NON-USEPRE CHARGED & READY TO USE2000 MAHNO MEMORY EFFECTAAA4 PKUPC : 043712129065Shipping Dimensions : 0.58in X 3.75in X 4.50inEstimated Shipping Weight : 0.1409… |
|
|
Sylvania 12709 100-Watt 130-Volt A19 Household Bulb, 24 Pack 100A CVP 24PK $13.46 … |
|
|
SanDisk 8 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card SDSDB-8192-A11 $1.19 High transfer rate for fast copying and downloading Built to last with an operating shock rating of 2000Gs equivalent to a 10′ drop 5-year limited warranty… |
Who’s your Next Contractor?
Starting any home improvement project can be a daunting and expensive task. Like any type of project the “right” people make the difference for a successful conclusion. It will save money and time. Even if it is a small project or repair, care should be taken when selecting the “right” contractor or home improvement company.
Finding the right contractor for your home improvement project.
Naturally the first advice is to seek someone who has been recommended by a trusted source. Relatives, friends or neighbors are a good starting point. It is natural to assume that these referrals can be trusted; however, be sure to check how long ago the work was done. The reason for this is that over years there is turnover in a crew or the actual owner may have done the work if he had just started in the business.
Outside your immediate circle there are many places you can find contractors, so don’t pick one source. Check the local pages, BBB, licensing databases in your state, contractors’ own references and finally, like in most aspects of life, the Internet offers information on local contractors in your area.
Finally, the “FREE” estimate. Since it is free, contact at least three or four contractors for estimates. This will help you in making an educated decision. For a smaller project, probably three would suffice. First impressions.
All meetings, personal or business, rely on first impressions. Your instinct comes into play here. If you don’t feel right about a contractor, then probably he’s not the right choice for you. Allow at least for one hour per interview and ask as many questions as you can. A good contractor will deliver more information than you need, and in most cases your husband or wife may not be present and you will have to explain the information to them.
Questions you should come away with an answer after the initial meeting:
* Is the contractor or salesman presentable in appearance?
* Is the salesman the owner? If not does he sell for many different contractors?
* Was he detailed and willing to explain all your questions?
* Is he willing to discuss other jobs his company has worked on?
* Was he polite?
* Did you feel any pressure to buy or sign on the proverbial dotted line?
* Is he trained by the manufacturer to install and use the equipment or materials required?
Ten important questions about the contractor you may hire:
1. Is he licensed and insured? If so, does he have a copy or can he provide it? This is question 1, as you should not proceed if the answer is NO. If you live under a homeowners association, most likely he will be required to have it do work in your community. In addition he must have workman’s compensation. This is important in addition to liability insurance. Contractors with all these requirements will cost more. However, if someone gets injured on your property the legal costs and aggravation may be more than the extra money you are paying.
2. How long has the contractor been in business and how long has he been in business in your area? If it is a new business, he may have just opened a franchise. Since the franchise has checked and trained this person, being a new business is not a negative. If he’s a newer business, he may have worked in the business and decided to go at it on his own. This is not bad and you may consider this in you decision making as he is trying to make a name for himself and may provide more attention to you and perhaps a better price to build up his business.
3. As a contractor, does he need a license and if so does he have it and is willing to provide it? In some states you can look him up and see if it is updated, and has he ever been disciplined or reprimanded? Not all work requires a license and not all states require a person or business to carry one.
4. Warranty. Like any commerce transaction, ask about the materials. Are they top quality and do they have a manufacturer’s warranty? What kind of workmanship warranty is included if it is not a material defect but an installation defect? How long is this warranty and do you need to contact the contractor or the manufacturer in the case of defective materials?
5. References. Ask not only to see them but also obviously contact them; and if it is possible, go see actual jobs. Does he offer before and after pictures of previous jobs? Does he have a website showing completed jobs and “actual” references? In addition ask for business references such as suppliers, landlords, etc.
6. Customer complaints are a fact of life. The important thing is how are they handled and what is the time frame to resolve them on average.
7. When you talk to the references, ask if the contractor did a final walk thru and made sure they were happy. Did he send a thank you note and has he followed up during the work as well as after the job was completed? Contractors who seek referrals make sure they are proud of their work and do a good job.
8. Deposits are a sore issue; contractors will want a deposit from you to show you are serious about the job. On the other hand, contractors that are not reputable will take it and run. So what to do? If the job is small, the deposit, if any, should be small or none, meaning you pay in full when the job is done. If the job is a pool, addition, remodeling or large scale, you should expect to provide a deposit and adhere to a payment schedule. The payment schedule should be in the contract and you should stick to it. Never deviate from this schedule. Paying on a credit card can give an extra level of protection as the contractor will have to answer as merchant to the bank and you have one more ally if the project is not completed as promised.
9. Does the contractor subcontract his work or does he manage and hire his own crews? This is important because if he does not pay his subcontractor, your home may get a lien and you may be responsible. In addition he may have less control of the crew and their skill level. However, in larger jobs this is very common, but you should still question their relationship with other companies they do business with.
10. The contract is a legal and binding document and should be read carefully and explained to you by the contractor. If you don’t understand it ask a third party, preferably a lawyer, if it is a large amount of money.
Here are a few things you should look at:
* Product choices (colors, materials)
* Right to rescind (Each state may be different.)
* Scheduling (Start, finish and milestone dates)
* Possible delays (weather, material shortage, etc)
* Down payment and payment schedule
* Manufacturer warranties
* Labor warranty
* Walk thru and final inspection
* Local government and home owners’ approvals
Additional sources you should consider:
* Your local BBB or Better Business Bureau
* Local government and state licensing
* Trade associations
* Third party niche sites on the Internet
About the Author
Lee Starusta is president of YourContractorDirect.com
Local Contractor Directory
How can I deal with a lazy, and offensive contractor who my bosses won’t fire?
There is a man at my job who says and does the silliest things. He has made a sexually offensive comment to my supervisor, that she didn’t report for fear of losing her job. He sometimes stays on the company phone or his cell phone for hours at a time, or leaves his desk sometimes forty minutes at a time with no explanation of where he is going or where he’s been, and it leaves his work to be done by me. The problem is, I can’t ignore his work. It just has to be done right away. Because he is a contracted employee, my human resource manager can’t/won’t do anything about it. So, I went to the person in the company in charge of his employment and have had three meetings about these issues, in which case the contracted employee denies everything. Has anyone else experienced anything like this, and if so, what did you do? What would you do in my case?
Document!Document!Document. As supervisor in a large corp. I can tell you ,you have to document everything.Every time he chats up on the company phone . Every time hi leaves his desk for long periods of time. Every time you have to do his work. Keep taking this problem to the powers that be.You did not say why his work has to be done, if it is at all possible leave it.
Umbrella company services, what contractors must insist on?
In by gone days all a contractor had to do was give the customer good quality and good service and he/she would be set. Then set back and let your customers do your selling for you. They would tell a friend and then that friend would tell a friend. Your phone would be ringing off the hook. I remember as an Architectural designer some days I would have up to four people wanting to schedule appointments for designs. Those days are long gone! But Fear Not! Click Here For Help
