Hiring a Contractor
Dear Home Inspector: We're considering some major renovations to our home including a new kitchen, bedroom suite addition and a detached garage. We've heard horror stories about contractors from friends and coworkers. Isn't there some way to avoid headaches during the project? Sure: Move out for twice as long as the contractor tells you it will take, pay 35% more than the estimate, don't expect much to be done right, and anticipate that some items won't be done at all. That's not to say that all of the above will happen to you. But having been asked by law firms to assist in litigation against contractors, I've seen some very unpleasant situations and worked with many irate homeowners. In most of these cases, it seems that the contractors (now defendants) have no clue that they have acted improperly. They seem genuinely surprised that everyone isn't thrilled with the workmanship, schedule and final product, since this is how they have always operated. Even reputable, experienced contractors can run into difficulties on any particular job, resulting in delays or other surprises for the customer. Here are some pointers that may help you avoid some headaches, or at least protect you if things go wrong. 1) Inspect the Contractor 2) Inspect the Terms A written contract is an absolute must and should at least include the following: 3) Inspect the Work Before releasing final payment, be sure the contractor has paid the subcontractors and suppliers. In some states, they can file a "mechanics lien" against your home if they haven't been paid in full. You (and the municipal building inspector) should be completely satisfied with the final product before handing over the last check. Some folks take the extra step of hiring a home inspector to perform a thorough inspection of the work performed to be sure there aren't any issues that might surface in the future.
The contractor failed to extend this plumbing vent when raising the roof.