Are you confident in your ability to avoid home repair fraud?
You may have identified several areas where you can improve in your home and start reaping extra value. But there’s still another hurdle to overcome. And it’s an important one.
Thousands of consumers complain to the Better Business Bureau about home repair fraud each year. Home repairs are second only to car repairs on the “rip-off” list.
Here’s the inside story on the most common games played, plus several tips to help you avoid becoming another contractor victim.
Selecting Painters
The key to a great paint job isn’t necessarily in the painting but in the prep work. Ensure every inch is scraped, sanded, patched, and primed.
However, taking the time and effort may pay off big dividends. Here are a few tips to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth out of your painter:
Verify that all priming and preparation have been done. Ask your painter to use a primer paint colour different from the current or finish paint. For example, if your existing colour is white, ask them to use a light-gray primer.
Get a detailed on-site estimate to avoid unpleasant surprises. You don’t need to go through three estimates for the same job. Just get two estimates if they’re in the same ballpark. But ensure they’re detailed so you know what you’re paying for.
Don’t scrimp on paint. Use high-quality paint, even if you can only afford a single coat. But don’t buy the top-of-the-line, either. Your best bet? Select a colour that’s one step down from the top-of-the-line premium paint.
Remember that painters do better on paint prices than you will. Frequently referred to as a “contractor price,” your painter can, for example, buy paint at $62 a gallon and resell it to you for $75. Even with the markup, that’s still a better deal than buying it for retail at $85. Make sure to ask your painter how their paint pricing works.
Remember, no matter how much you haggle with potential contractors to lower their bids, they still need to make a living. You can push too hard. If you pressure painters into lower prices, this only means they have to find cheaper labour to do the job. And affordable labour means a shoddy job. Either way, you generally get what you pay for.
Selecting Plumbers
Here’s the “inside scoop” on plumbers: you won’t pay much for the “parts” they use; they make their money on labour and “mobilization charges.” Frequently, plumbers charge a minimum of one hour, regardless of the actual time spent on the work.
So, if you’re paying a plumber a minimum fee to show up anyway, why not ask him to do other work involving plumbing, such as fixing disposals, pool or lawn sprinkler work, leaky faucets, or washers that need replacing? Use up the minimum he will charge you for fix-up projects.
Plumbing problems are challenging to estimate. To help you in the process, here are several tips to consider:
Explain your job or problem over the phone, then ask how they will address it, what the cost will be, and when the work will start and be completed. And here’s an important tip: if you live in an affluent neighbourhood, do not give your phone number or address until after you’ve been quoted a price. Some plumbers pay 50% more when they learn you live in an affluent neighbourhood.
If a highly recommended plumber has no idea about the job’s cost, negotiate a flat rate for them to inspect the problem and provide a quality bid.
When dealing with tradespeople who charge by the hour, ask if travel time is also included on the clock.
If you suspect your plumber is overcharging you for materials, visit Home Depot or a plumbing supply house and obtain a price quote for the same materials. You can still check the price tags even if they don’t sell directly to consumers.
Selecting Electricians
Electricians register the fewest complaints from consumers, likely because they must adhere to the most stringent national standards. Before hiring an electrician, make sure they are licensed.
You should also check (along with all tradesmen you consider) that: 1) he’s licensed and insured; 2) he has no complaints with the Better Business Bureau in your area; 3) he’s driving a truck or van with a painted-on sign and logo; and 4) he’s willing to write you an estimate on his own printed invoice, which should reveal a street address rather than a post office box.
However, electricians can easily take advantage of you on parts. A cheap electrical switch costs your electrician $0.99 compared to $4 for a longer-lasting one. When obtaining parts from your electrician, ensure he uses “specification grade or better” products – a standard set by the CSA.
Selecting Roofers
Better Business Bureaus have their files stuffed with stories of roofers who ripped off consumers and skipped town.
If you’ve got a leaky roof, chances are it’s a flashing problem. This is the material, typically made of copper, galvanized steel, or aluminum, that connects your roof to the chimney with a black, sticky substance called asphalt cement. If you need flashing fixed, plan to spend about $30 to $50 per hour to set it correctly.
Be wary of the roofer who gazes at your roof and announces, “Your roof is 15 years old, and it’s gonna leak soon if you don’t replace those shingles.” The only way to determine whether you need a new roof is to get up there and inspect it. Worn-out shingles, which have lost their oil and thus water repellency, look brittle, curl up at the edges, and often crumble into powder when broken.
A new asphalt shingle roof is typically costed out per “square” (a roofer’s square is 100 square feet), depending on the quality of the shingles and the slope of your roof. A shingle roof should last 15 to 20 years.
If you plan to move out of your home soon, you might want to consider a “second coat” of shingles. This will avoid the need to strip off the first layer, saving you approximately 20% in labour.
Selecting HVAC Specialists
The most common rip-offs with HVAC (an acronym for “Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Cooling”) include substituting used parts for new ones and replacing components that don’t need replacement.
The solution? Always ask to see the old or broken parts before they’re replaced, and examine the packaging and documentation of any new features used.
And here’s another tip: try to have any HVAC repairs performed off-season. Air conditioning and heating work is up to 10% less expensive during the off-season.
Also, avoid extended payment plans. There’s no free lunch, and it’s assumed you’re paying for the costs of money somewhere in the job. If you purchase a service contract, ensure that your contractor details everything that will be performed under the agreement and that they have the most up-to-date equipment to complete the job.
And if you need to replace an air conditioner or furnace, eliminate the bidder who estimates the job without measuring your windows, inquiring about the type of insulation you have, and considering the direction your home faces.
Should You Get A Written Contract?
Written agreements keep a tradesperson to their word as long as they’re detailed.
Ensure you receive a written statement stating that all work performed has been paid in full. Or, better yet, when you submit your final payment, write that statement yourself and ask the tradesman to sign it.
Get Expert Advice and “Hand-Holding” Guidance In Getting the Most Value Out Of Your Home
Sold, a fabulous four-letter word for Home Sellers
There’s no question about it; getting top dollar out of your home can be tricky. One false move can cost you thousands of dollars. We have developed a proprietary program for homeowners seeking to sell their properties. We call it our :
Maximum Home Value Audit
And it’s completely different from what any other Realtor can provide for you. If you’re considering selling in the next six months, here’s what I’ll provide for you without any obligation whatsoever:
I’ll conduct a careful and thorough valuation of your home, based on real-world facts, in an EASY-to-understand format—no inflated values. No pressure. No signing anything.
And you won’t get anything like, “I have a buyer right now who’s interested in your specific home, and if you list with me, I’ll bring him by right now.” You’ll get no pressure, no arm-twisting, and only a real-world, honest, fact-filled analysis.
I will tour your home to identify items that could negatively affect your selling price. As mentioned earlier, some of our findings could result in a $10 increase in sales price for every $1 invested. By the end of my tour, you’ll have a checklist of strategies designed to “position” your home to sell for the most money possible.
I’ll share our [128 Step Top Dollar Marketing Plan]. This plan will provide you with insider secrets on how to effectively promote your home, handle buyers, interact with other Realtors, lawyers, and mortgage professionals, and prepare for a move.
PLUS, we guarantee everything we do. If any other Realtor doesn’t ensure their services, ask them why. You’re staking the successful sale of your home on their abilities; why shouldn’t they stake their fee the same way? We place our priorities in the same place as yours. We’re in this together!
The Last Thing You Need Is Pressure!
We are full-time Realtors. We make it a priority to educate & guide YOU on every aspect of your transaction.
We have a list of references, past clients, and professional associations whom you can contact at any time to discuss the quality of service we have provided to others like you.
We have developed an EXCLUSIVE [128 Step] marketing plan unequalled by anyone in the business. There’s no other way we can live up to that expectation without extraordinary marketing capabilities.
We have specifically designed marketing tracking systems for every home we sell. We also have specific techniques to ensure you receive all activity and progress updates at your home on a weekly basis. You will NEVER feel out of touch with us!
We guarantee everything we do! If you’re not happy with us, fire us! This places the burden of risk on us, not you.
We have references for reliable sources, many of which realtors are unaware of, such as insurance companies, inspectors, lawyers, mortgage providers, and others directly related to your transaction. If you choose to use any of them, you won’t be dealing with arbitrary people. These are professionals with whom we have worked personally in other transactions.
We schedule showings around your schedule and respect your personal and family time. This requires special planning and forethought that most Realtors do not consider.
We speak with people directly involved in real estate transactions every day. This enables us to establish a communication link between properties and individuals.
Most importantly, we generate over 80% of our clients through referrals alone. We focus 110% of our efforts on providing such outstanding service; our clients will refer our services to family, friends, and acquaintances.
All Realtors Are NOT The Same!
On the surface, it may seem there are many Realtors from which to choose. However, just because there are many Realtors out there doesn’t mean they can all do the same job for you.
I know there’s a natural tendency to procrastinate and put off important decisions. But the more you procrastinate, the more pressure ultimately rests with you.
Congratulations
You have read this far! Very few people take the time to plan; instead, they go willy-nilly, allowing their emotions to make decisions.