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5 Tricks to Keep Your Contractor Honest

Written by Posted On Thursday, 19 July 2018 10:51
Contractors Contractors Contractors

Keep in mind that most contractors are honest, hard-working people who are not interested in anything but getting good pay for a good day’s work. However, because of the nature of the business, there are certain tactics that you must use to keep the costs down while still paying enough for the best to work for you.

What follows are five common tactics or tricks to ensure that your contactor stays honest and you stay within your budget.

Use a Contract

Hiring a contractor, especially one that works by estimate or bid, will require a contract to be signed so that both sides stick to the agreement. Most good contractors will have their own contracts which are easy to read and straightforward in nature. Or, you can download contracts from reputable legal form websites. Regardless, you’ll want a contract that sets the bid or estimate in stone so that you are not hit with hidden fees.

Be Specific

The more specific you are about what you want accomplished, the more it will look like what you want when they are finished. So, if you hire a contractor to paint a room, be sure to specify the color, that the ceiling and trim are included or not, and don’t spill any on the carpet. It may seem like silly details, but the more you spell out what you want, the more you’ll get what you want.  

Get an Estimate

For jobs larger than fixing a leaking sink, you’ll want to get an estimate first on the work that needs to be done. This is perfect for rehabilitation efforts when you want to make significant changes to the home or building. By getting estimates or bids from different contractors, you can choose the one that works best for you. Plus, they must stay within the bid as contracted.

However, a bid or estimate may not work well for large repair projects, such as leaking pipes behind walls because the extent of the work will not be known. So, keep that in mind when you consider getting estimates.

Use Invoices

If only for your bookkeeping, remember to use invoices for what and who you pay. Not using invoices only invites trouble and puts you in a position to be taken advantage, so be sure to use them at all times and write down details of the work that was accomplished for every invoice. That way, you’ll know what you have paid for and how much.

Never Pay It All Upfront

In other words, keep the contractor working for the money by agreeing to pay in installments or perhaps half down immediately and half when the job is completed depending on the size of the job itself. By paying with installments, you can ensure that each goal is reached and then paid for upon completion in a timely manner. Of course, you’ll want to verify the work itself before you pay.

By using these tricks, you can ensure that the contractors will be working for you and not taking advantage of you.

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