[UCGal]

Our settlement says I can’t mention the name anywhere. (I had posted here about him – and had to have Rich remove the post.)

All I can say is with the first guy who shall remain nameless, his CSLB license shows a complaint, and if you click on the complaint you can read all about it – including the judgement.

That’s public record, because it’s the state’s record. But I’m not allowed to say anything.

Don’t want to jeopardize anything with our settlement…. But definitely check the licenses of potential contractors.

Look for the following:
* Gaps, even short ones, in their bonding history. This can indicate a bond was paid out and they needed to get a new bond company.
* A switch in bonding companies at an odd (not annual date) time. See above.
* Complaints filed.
* Disciplinary action.

Another red flag (to me) is if they refer to employees in their marketing, but don’t have workmans comp. If they have direct employees, they have to have workmans comp.

But – even if their record is clean on the CSLB – there may be complaints filed against them – the CSLB took more than 6 months to vet our complaint enough to agree it was worth posting, and another year to start prosecution. And we were exceptionally well documented in what had happened. In other words – people may have complained, but there’s a lag between the complaint filed and the reporting on the website.

Also – look up the contractor (under corporate name and under personal name) in the court records
http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
(click on court index, then party name search – look for civil cases).

And it doesn’t hurt to look to see if they’re lien happy – look them up on the county recorders site
http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us/services/grantorgrantee/search.aspx
If you see they have a lot of liens filed, decide if this is a contractor you want to work with.
(this would have been a “tell” with our second contractor – and yes we were slapped with a lien for not paying for work NOT provided)

And lastly, check their corporate status (if they’re incorporated or LLC) with the Sec. of State’s office. If the corporation is suspended that’s a HUGE red flag… if the contract is issued under the corporate name.
http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/

And, obviously, check references. Don’t just drive by… phone or knock on the door and talk to them about what it was like to work with the contractor.

[UCGal]

Our settlement says I can’t mention the name anywhere. (I had posted here about him – and had to have Rich remove the post.)

All I can say is with the first guy who shall remain nameless, his CSLB license shows a complaint, and if you click on the complaint you can read all about it – including the judgement.

That’s public record, because it’s the state’s record. But I’m not allowed to say anything.

Don’t want to jeopardize anything with our settlement…. But definitely check the licenses of potential contractors.

Look for the following:
* Gaps, even short ones, in their bonding history. This can indicate a bond was paid out and they needed to get a new bond company.
* A switch in bonding companies at an odd (not annual date) time. See above.
* Complaints filed.
* Disciplinary action.

Another red flag (to me) is if they refer to employees in their marketing, but don’t have workmans comp. If they have direct employees, they have to have workmans comp.

But – even if their record is clean on the CSLB – there may be complaints filed against them – the CSLB took more than 6 months to vet our complaint enough to agree it was worth posting, and another year to start prosecution. And we were exceptionally well documented in what had happened. In other words – people may have complained, but there’s a lag between the complaint filed and the reporting on the website.

Also – look up the contractor (under corporate name and under personal name) in the court records
http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
(click on court index, then party name search – look for civil cases).

And it doesn’t hurt to look to see if they’re lien happy – look them up on the county recorders site
http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us/services/grantorgrantee/search.aspx
If you see they have a lot of liens filed, decide if this is a contractor you want to work with.
(this would have been a “tell” with our second contractor – and yes we were slapped with a lien for not paying for work NOT provided)

And lastly, check their corporate status (if they’re incorporated or LLC) with the Sec. of State’s office. If the corporation is suspended that’s a HUGE red flag… if the contract is issued under the corporate name.
http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/

And, obviously, check references. Don’t just drive by… phone or knock on the door and talk to them about what it was like to work with the contractor.

[UCGal]

Our settlement says I can’t mention the name anywhere. (I had posted here about him – and had to have Rich remove the post.)

All I can say is with the first guy who shall remain nameless, his CSLB license shows a complaint, and if you click on the complaint you can read all about it – including the judgement.

That’s public record, because it’s the state’s record. But I’m not allowed to say anything.

Don’t want to jeopardize anything with our settlement…. But definitely check the licenses of potential contractors.

Look for the following:
* Gaps, even short ones, in their bonding history. This can indicate a bond was paid out and they needed to get a new bond company.
* A switch in bonding companies at an odd (not annual date) time. See above.
* Complaints filed.
* Disciplinary action.

Another red flag (to me) is if they refer to employees in their marketing, but don’t have workmans comp. If they have direct employees, they have to have workmans comp.

But – even if their record is clean on the CSLB – there may be complaints filed against them – the CSLB took more than 6 months to vet our complaint enough to agree it was worth posting, and another year to start prosecution. And we were exceptionally well documented in what had happened. In other words – people may have complained, but there’s a lag between the complaint filed and the reporting on the website.

Also – look up the contractor (under corporate name and under personal name) in the court records
http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
(click on court index, then party name search – look for civil cases).

And it doesn’t hurt to look to see if they’re lien happy – look them up on the county recorders site
http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us/services/grantorgrantee/search.aspx
If you see they have a lot of liens filed, decide if this is a contractor you want to work with.
(this would have been a “tell” with our second contractor – and yes we were slapped with a lien for not paying for work NOT provided)

And lastly, check their corporate status (if they’re incorporated or LLC) with the Sec. of State’s office. If the corporation is suspended that’s a HUGE red flag… if the contract is issued under the corporate name.
http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/

And, obviously, check references. Don’t just drive by… phone or knock on the door and talk to them about what it was like to work with the contractor.

[UCGal]

jp – do you know if they fabricate countertops? We’ve been talking about (forever) getting stainless steel counters.

(Part of the much discussed, much planned, but never implemented kitchen remodel.)

[UCGal]

jp – do you know if they fabricate countertops? We’ve been talking about (forever) getting stainless steel counters.

(Part of the much discussed, much planned, but never implemented kitchen remodel.)

[UCGal]

jp – do you know if they fabricate countertops? We’ve been talking about (forever) getting stainless steel counters.

(Part of the much discussed, much planned, but never implemented kitchen remodel.)

[UCGal]

jp – do you know if they fabricate countertops? We’ve been talking about (forever) getting stainless steel counters.

(Part of the much discussed, much planned, but never implemented kitchen remodel.)

[UCGal]

jp – do you know if they fabricate countertops? We’ve been talking about (forever) getting stainless steel counters.

(Part of the much discussed, much planned, but never implemented kitchen remodel.)

[UCGal]

[quote=briansd1]UCGal, if you don’t mind sharing, how much was your price per square foot on your addition?

I’m going to do a garage addition soon and some interior remodeling on my rental house. I think that this fall/winter is a good time to do construction.[/quote]
I don’t think it’s relevant for several reasons:
– Our project was a DETACHED companion unit.
– It was hillside development that involved several retaining walls and significant grading. This was a large portion of the budget. It involved more engineering, more inspections (city called for “special inspectors”, etc.
– We had labor issues… which resulted in multiple contractors and legal fees. Those were part of my total budget since the money was spent towards the end project.

not typical.

Also – we had costs you wouldn’t have had – sewer, water, and power lines all had to be trenched and connected in, etc.

Like I said – our project wasn’t typical so a $/sf is not really relevant unless you’re talking about a hillside project that involves building permits, stamped structual engineering plans, civil engineering permits…

[UCGal]

[quote=briansd1]UCGal, if you don’t mind sharing, how much was your price per square foot on your addition?

I’m going to do a garage addition soon and some interior remodeling on my rental house. I think that this fall/winter is a good time to do construction.[/quote]
I don’t think it’s relevant for several reasons:
– Our project was a DETACHED companion unit.
– It was hillside development that involved several retaining walls and significant grading. This was a large portion of the budget. It involved more engineering, more inspections (city called for “special inspectors”, etc.
– We had labor issues… which resulted in multiple contractors and legal fees. Those were part of my total budget since the money was spent towards the end project.

not typical.

Also – we had costs you wouldn’t have had – sewer, water, and power lines all had to be trenched and connected in, etc.

Like I said – our project wasn’t typical so a $/sf is not really relevant unless you’re talking about a hillside project that involves building permits, stamped structual engineering plans, civil engineering permits…

[UCGal]

[quote=briansd1]UCGal, if you don’t mind sharing, how much was your price per square foot on your addition?

I’m going to do a garage addition soon and some interior remodeling on my rental house. I think that this fall/winter is a good time to do construction.[/quote]
I don’t think it’s relevant for several reasons:
– Our project was a DETACHED companion unit.
– It was hillside development that involved several retaining walls and significant grading. This was a large portion of the budget. It involved more engineering, more inspections (city called for “special inspectors”, etc.
– We had labor issues… which resulted in multiple contractors and legal fees. Those were part of my total budget since the money was spent towards the end project.

not typical.

Also – we had costs you wouldn’t have had – sewer, water, and power lines all had to be trenched and connected in, etc.

Like I said – our project wasn’t typical so a $/sf is not really relevant unless you’re talking about a hillside project that involves building permits, stamped structual engineering plans, civil engineering permits…

[UCGal]

[quote=briansd1]UCGal, if you don’t mind sharing, how much was your price per square foot on your addition?

I’m going to do a garage addition soon and some interior remodeling on my rental house. I think that this fall/winter is a good time to do construction.[/quote]
I don’t think it’s relevant for several reasons:
– Our project was a DETACHED companion unit.
– It was hillside development that involved several retaining walls and significant grading. This was a large portion of the budget. It involved more engineering, more inspections (city called for “special inspectors”, etc.
– We had labor issues… which resulted in multiple contractors and legal fees. Those were part of my total budget since the money was spent towards the end project.

not typical.

Also – we had costs you wouldn’t have had – sewer, water, and power lines all had to be trenched and connected in, etc.

Like I said – our project wasn’t typical so a $/sf is not really relevant unless you’re talking about a hillside project that involves building permits, stamped structual engineering plans, civil engineering permits…

[UCGal]

[quote=briansd1]UCGal, if you don’t mind sharing, how much was your price per square foot on your addition?

I’m going to do a garage addition soon and some interior remodeling on my rental house. I think that this fall/winter is a good time to do construction.[/quote]
I don’t think it’s relevant for several reasons:
– Our project was a DETACHED companion unit.
– It was hillside development that involved several retaining walls and significant grading. This was a large portion of the budget. It involved more engineering, more inspections (city called for “special inspectors”, etc.
– We had labor issues… which resulted in multiple contractors and legal fees. Those were part of my total budget since the money was spent towards the end project.

not typical.

Also – we had costs you wouldn’t have had – sewer, water, and power lines all had to be trenched and connected in, etc.

Like I said – our project wasn’t typical so a $/sf is not really relevant unless you’re talking about a hillside project that involves building permits, stamped structual engineering plans, civil engineering permits…

[UCGal]

[quote=sdduuuude]

The big builder here is K-Co. They did our first remodel project. I consider them honest and fair. They are not the cheapest – above average cost but not over-priced. I think all things considered, they are a good option if you don’t have “do it yourself” tendencies like I do. Consider having your builder leave the walls ready to paint and ready for flooring and do that yourself.

[/quote]

We had k-co bid on our granny flat – on the first round of bids. They were the absolute highest bidder, which suprised us because he seemed so down to earth. Even with our issues (more than one contractor, legal fees, etc) we still got it done, in total, for more than $100k less than we were quoted by k-co.

Caveat – we first put out to bid when contractors were not hungry – fall 2006. Things were still frothy. We put it out to bid again, a few months later, as housing was starting to collapse, and bids were half what the first set was. (Different contractors – but more importantly, contractors were more hungry.)

We had good vibes with k-co, liked his work… but the price (at the time) was out of our ballpark.

[UCGal]

[quote=sdduuuude]

The big builder here is K-Co. They did our first remodel project. I consider them honest and fair. They are not the cheapest – above average cost but not over-priced. I think all things considered, they are a good option if you don’t have “do it yourself” tendencies like I do. Consider having your builder leave the walls ready to paint and ready for flooring and do that yourself.

[/quote]

We had k-co bid on our granny flat – on the first round of bids. They were the absolute highest bidder, which suprised us because he seemed so down to earth. Even with our issues (more than one contractor, legal fees, etc) we still got it done, in total, for more than $100k less than we were quoted by k-co.

Caveat – we first put out to bid when contractors were not hungry – fall 2006. Things were still frothy. We put it out to bid again, a few months later, as housing was starting to collapse, and bids were half what the first set was. (Different contractors – but more importantly, contractors were more hungry.)

We had good vibes with k-co, liked his work… but the price (at the time) was out of our ballpark.

[Author]

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