[george]

There are many good, honest contractors, but in my experience no other profession has as high of a proportion of incompetent and/or crooked practitioners.

In addition to the other posters advice, also make sure to:

– Have them put everything in writing with all important details included.

– Make sure that they are not going to hire sub-contractors to do the work unless you are totally comfortable with the sub-contractors. Remember that you are ultimately responsible for the sub-contractors being paid, even though you did not have a contract with them, or even knew that they were sub-contractors when they were doing the work. The sub-contractors can put a lien on your house if the contractor doesn’t pay them (even if you can prove you paid the contractor in full).

– Verify that owner (or main man) will be onsite for the duration of the project rather than sending out his semi-skilled, non-english speaking employees.

– Pay with a credit card if you can. It’s very easy to freeze/pull back the funds after the fact. This gives you huge leverage.

– It’s illegal for a California contractor to ask for more than 10% or $1000 up front. It doesn’t matter if they have to order materials that exceed this amount. If they don’t agree to this they are probably broke.

[george]

There are many good, honest contractors, but in my experience no other profession has as high of a proportion of incompetent and/or crooked practitioners.

In addition to the other posters advice, also make sure to:

– Have them put everything in writing with all important details included.

– Make sure that they are not going to hire sub-contractors to do the work unless you are totally comfortable with the sub-contractors. Remember that you are ultimately responsible for the sub-contractors being paid, even though you did not have a contract with them, or even knew that they were sub-contractors when they were doing the work. The sub-contractors can put a lien on your house if the contractor doesn’t pay them (even if you can prove you paid the contractor in full).

– Verify that owner (or main man) will be onsite for the duration of the project rather than sending out his semi-skilled, non-english speaking employees.

– Pay with a credit card if you can. It’s very easy to freeze/pull back the funds after the fact. This gives you huge leverage.

– It’s illegal for a California contractor to ask for more than 10% or $1000 up front. It doesn’t matter if they have to order materials that exceed this amount. If they don’t agree to this they are probably broke.

[george]

There are many good, honest contractors, but in my experience no other profession has as high of a proportion of incompetent and/or crooked practitioners.

In addition to the other posters advice, also make sure to:

– Have them put everything in writing with all important details included.

– Make sure that they are not going to hire sub-contractors to do the work unless you are totally comfortable with the sub-contractors. Remember that you are ultimately responsible for the sub-contractors being paid, even though you did not have a contract with them, or even knew that they were sub-contractors when they were doing the work. The sub-contractors can put a lien on your house if the contractor doesn’t pay them (even if you can prove you paid the contractor in full).

– Verify that owner (or main man) will be onsite for the duration of the project rather than sending out his semi-skilled, non-english speaking employees.

– Pay with a credit card if you can. It’s very easy to freeze/pull back the funds after the fact. This gives you huge leverage.

– It’s illegal for a California contractor to ask for more than 10% or $1000 up front. It doesn’t matter if they have to order materials that exceed this amount. If they don’t agree to this they are probably broke.

[george]

There are many good, honest contractors, but in my experience no other profession has as high of a proportion of incompetent and/or crooked practitioners.

In addition to the other posters advice, also make sure to:

– Have them put everything in writing with all important details included.

– Make sure that they are not going to hire sub-contractors to do the work unless you are totally comfortable with the sub-contractors. Remember that you are ultimately responsible for the sub-contractors being paid, even though you did not have a contract with them, or even knew that they were sub-contractors when they were doing the work. The sub-contractors can put a lien on your house if the contractor doesn’t pay them (even if you can prove you paid the contractor in full).

– Verify that owner (or main man) will be onsite for the duration of the project rather than sending out his semi-skilled, non-english speaking employees.

– Pay with a credit card if you can. It’s very easy to freeze/pull back the funds after the fact. This gives you huge leverage.

– It’s illegal for a California contractor to ask for more than 10% or $1000 up front. It doesn’t matter if they have to order materials that exceed this amount. If they don’t agree to this they are probably broke.

[george]

There are many good, honest contractors, but in my experience no other profession has as high of a proportion of incompetent and/or crooked practitioners.

In addition to the other posters advice, also make sure to:

– Have them put everything in writing with all important details included.

– Make sure that they are not going to hire sub-contractors to do the work unless you are totally comfortable with the sub-contractors. Remember that you are ultimately responsible for the sub-contractors being paid, even though you did not have a contract with them, or even knew that they were sub-contractors when they were doing the work. The sub-contractors can put a lien on your house if the contractor doesn’t pay them (even if you can prove you paid the contractor in full).

– Verify that owner (or main man) will be onsite for the duration of the project rather than sending out his semi-skilled, non-english speaking employees.

– Pay with a credit card if you can. It’s very easy to freeze/pull back the funds after the fact. This gives you huge leverage.

– It’s illegal for a California contractor to ask for more than 10% or $1000 up front. It doesn’t matter if they have to order materials that exceed this amount. If they don’t agree to this they are probably broke.

[george]

The seller’s disclosures and seller’s agent inspection disclosures should be completed before the property is listed. IMO an agent that prices and lists a property before getting the seller’s disclosures and before doing their own agent’s inspection/disclosures is not doing their job in a professional manner.

[george]

The seller’s disclosures and seller’s agent inspection disclosures should be completed before the property is listed. IMO an agent that prices and lists a property before getting the seller’s disclosures and before doing their own agent’s inspection/disclosures is not doing their job in a professional manner.

[george]

The seller’s disclosures and seller’s agent inspection disclosures should be completed before the property is listed. IMO an agent that prices and lists a property before getting the seller’s disclosures and before doing their own agent’s inspection/disclosures is not doing their job in a professional manner.

[george]

The seller’s disclosures and seller’s agent inspection disclosures should be completed before the property is listed. IMO an agent that prices and lists a property before getting the seller’s disclosures and before doing their own agent’s inspection/disclosures is not doing their job in a professional manner.

[george]

The seller’s disclosures and seller’s agent inspection disclosures should be completed before the property is listed. IMO an agent that prices and lists a property before getting the seller’s disclosures and before doing their own agent’s inspection/disclosures is not doing their job in a professional manner.

[george]

BTW, if your realtor is implying to you that it’s OK to get the disclosures the day of the inspection I would have less confidence in their ability to manage the contract and to look out for your best interests. It’s also not fair to the home inspector who gets the last minute cancellation and probably won’t be able to rebook that time slot.

[george]

BTW, if your realtor is implying to you that it’s OK to get the disclosures the day of the inspection I would have less confidence in their ability to manage the contract and to look out for your best interests. It’s also not fair to the home inspector who gets the last minute cancellation and probably won’t be able to rebook that time slot.

[george]

BTW, if your realtor is implying to you that it’s OK to get the disclosures the day of the inspection I would have less confidence in their ability to manage the contract and to look out for your best interests. It’s also not fair to the home inspector who gets the last minute cancellation and probably won’t be able to rebook that time slot.

[george]

BTW, if your realtor is implying to you that it’s OK to get the disclosures the day of the inspection I would have less confidence in their ability to manage the contract and to look out for your best interests. It’s also not fair to the home inspector who gets the last minute cancellation and probably won’t be able to rebook that time slot.

[george]

BTW, if your realtor is implying to you that it’s OK to get the disclosures the day of the inspection I would have less confidence in their ability to manage the contract and to look out for your best interests. It’s also not fair to the home inspector who gets the last minute cancellation and probably won’t be able to rebook that time slot.

[Author]

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