Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
UCGal
ParticipantWhat year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…
Popcorn ceilings may or may not have asbestos – and you need to properly dispose of it (not the dump) if it does have asbestos… You can buy a kit to test it (you send it off to a lab) at Home Depot.
If it does have asbestos – you need to hire a contractor – unfortunately… Regular joe-schmoes aren’t allowed to dispose of asbestos material.
Removing the popcorn ceiling can be a DIY job. We did it in our house (for the non-asbestos portions… our house was 1/2 and 1/2 due to a burst upstairs pipe causing the downstairs ceiling to be replaced in the 80’s.) It’s kind of like removing wallpaper… get it wet – scrape it off… messy but not really a skilled labor type of job. Texturing or skim coating the ceiling is something you might want to hire out.
I disagree with the comments that you don’t have to spend as much time if a GC is running things. It’s still up to the owner to make sure the project stays on track, and is done correctly. Maybe it’s just our bad luck – but we had two GC’s and in both cases, supervision of the subs was non-existant.
I’d also skim the pamphlets the CSLB has online.
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/GeneralInformation/Library/GuidesAndPamphlets.aspParticipantWhat year is the house. You say older… for some folks that means 1990’s… for other folks that’s 1930’s…
Popcorn ceilings may or may not have asbestos – and you need to properly dispose of it (not the dump) if it does have asbestos… You can buy a kit to test it (you send it off to a lab) at Home Depot.
If it does have asbestos – you need to hire a contractor – unfortunately… Regular joe-schmoes aren’t allowed to dispose of asbestos material.
Removing the popcorn ceiling can be a DIY job. We did it in our house (for the non-asbestos portions… our house was 1/2 and 1/2 due to a burst upstairs pipe causing the downstairs ceiling to be replaced in the 80’s.) It’s kind of like removing wallpaper… get it wet – scrape it off… messy but not really a skilled labor type of job. Texturing or skim coating the ceiling is something you might want to hire out.
I disagree with the comments that you don’t have to spend as much time if a GC is running things. It’s still up to the owner to make sure the project stays on track, and is done correctly. Maybe it’s just our bad luck – but we had two GC’s and in both cases, supervision of the subs was non-existant.
I’d also skim the pamphlets the CSLB has online.
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/GeneralInformation/Library/GuidesAndPamphlets.aspParticipantI haven’t used Angie’s list because it costs $$
That said – I would do due-diligence on all (sub)contractors you plan to hire.
Look up their license:
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.aspThings to look for:
– Obviously you want active status.– Do they have any complaints showing (BIG red flag.)
– Do they have workers comp. If no, are they representing to YOU that they have employees. If they have any employees they HAVE to have workers comp – but a lot of contractors cheat on this.
– Look at the bonding and the insurance information. Call the bonding company to verify. Ask if any claims have been paid out or are under investigation. Call the previous bonding company (if any) and ask the same questions.
Run the company name AND the principal’s name through the court records for civil suits.
http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
If there are civil lawsuits – google the opposing party and talk to them. We wish we’d done this last step on our first contractor… turned out he abandoned two jobs before he abandoned ours – and one showed as active litigation. If we’d made the phone call we would have saved ourselves the current legal battle we’re in.
BBB is useless. Businesses pay to join. If a customer complains the business is given the chance to deny… It’s pretty much set up to favor the business in any dispute.
Check Ripoffreport.com. If you get a hit, investigate it.
And, obviously, call the references given to you. But keep in mind that contractors will only refer you to customers that didn’t have any problems. It’s more interesting to see how contractors deal when there is a dispute.
ParticipantI haven’t used Angie’s list because it costs $$
That said – I would do due-diligence on all (sub)contractors you plan to hire.
Look up their license:
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.aspThings to look for:
– Obviously you want active status.– Do they have any complaints showing (BIG red flag.)
– Do they have workers comp. If no, are they representing to YOU that they have employees. If they have any employees they HAVE to have workers comp – but a lot of contractors cheat on this.
– Look at the bonding and the insurance information. Call the bonding company to verify. Ask if any claims have been paid out or are under investigation. Call the previous bonding company (if any) and ask the same questions.
Run the company name AND the principal’s name through the court records for civil suits.
http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
If there are civil lawsuits – google the opposing party and talk to them. We wish we’d done this last step on our first contractor… turned out he abandoned two jobs before he abandoned ours – and one showed as active litigation. If we’d made the phone call we would have saved ourselves the current legal battle we’re in.
BBB is useless. Businesses pay to join. If a customer complains the business is given the chance to deny… It’s pretty much set up to favor the business in any dispute.
Check Ripoffreport.com. If you get a hit, investigate it.
And, obviously, call the references given to you. But keep in mind that contractors will only refer you to customers that didn’t have any problems. It’s more interesting to see how contractors deal when there is a dispute.
ParticipantI haven’t used Angie’s list because it costs $$
That said – I would do due-diligence on all (sub)contractors you plan to hire.
Look up their license:
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.aspThings to look for:
– Obviously you want active status.– Do they have any complaints showing (BIG red flag.)
– Do they have workers comp. If no, are they representing to YOU that they have employees. If they have any employees they HAVE to have workers comp – but a lot of contractors cheat on this.
– Look at the bonding and the insurance information. Call the bonding company to verify. Ask if any claims have been paid out or are under investigation. Call the previous bonding company (if any) and ask the same questions.
Run the company name AND the principal’s name through the court records for civil suits.
http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
If there are civil lawsuits – google the opposing party and talk to them. We wish we’d done this last step on our first contractor… turned out he abandoned two jobs before he abandoned ours – and one showed as active litigation. If we’d made the phone call we would have saved ourselves the current legal battle we’re in.
BBB is useless. Businesses pay to join. If a customer complains the business is given the chance to deny… It’s pretty much set up to favor the business in any dispute.
Check Ripoffreport.com. If you get a hit, investigate it.
And, obviously, call the references given to you. But keep in mind that contractors will only refer you to customers that didn’t have any problems. It’s more interesting to see how contractors deal when there is a dispute.
ParticipantI haven’t used Angie’s list because it costs $$
That said – I would do due-diligence on all (sub)contractors you plan to hire.
Look up their license:
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.aspThings to look for:
– Obviously you want active status.– Do they have any complaints showing (BIG red flag.)
– Do they have workers comp. If no, are they representing to YOU that they have employees. If they have any employees they HAVE to have workers comp – but a lot of contractors cheat on this.
– Look at the bonding and the insurance information. Call the bonding company to verify. Ask if any claims have been paid out or are under investigation. Call the previous bonding company (if any) and ask the same questions.
Run the company name AND the principal’s name through the court records for civil suits.
http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
If there are civil lawsuits – google the opposing party and talk to them. We wish we’d done this last step on our first contractor… turned out he abandoned two jobs before he abandoned ours – and one showed as active litigation. If we’d made the phone call we would have saved ourselves the current legal battle we’re in.
BBB is useless. Businesses pay to join. If a customer complains the business is given the chance to deny… It’s pretty much set up to favor the business in any dispute.
Check Ripoffreport.com. If you get a hit, investigate it.
And, obviously, call the references given to you. But keep in mind that contractors will only refer you to customers that didn’t have any problems. It’s more interesting to see how contractors deal when there is a dispute.
ParticipantI haven’t used Angie’s list because it costs $$
That said – I would do due-diligence on all (sub)contractors you plan to hire.
Look up their license:
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.aspThings to look for:
– Obviously you want active status.– Do they have any complaints showing (BIG red flag.)
– Do they have workers comp. If no, are they representing to YOU that they have employees. If they have any employees they HAVE to have workers comp – but a lot of contractors cheat on this.
– Look at the bonding and the insurance information. Call the bonding company to verify. Ask if any claims have been paid out or are under investigation. Call the previous bonding company (if any) and ask the same questions.
Run the company name AND the principal’s name through the court records for civil suits.
http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
If there are civil lawsuits – google the opposing party and talk to them. We wish we’d done this last step on our first contractor… turned out he abandoned two jobs before he abandoned ours – and one showed as active litigation. If we’d made the phone call we would have saved ourselves the current legal battle we’re in.
BBB is useless. Businesses pay to join. If a customer complains the business is given the chance to deny… It’s pretty much set up to favor the business in any dispute.
Check Ripoffreport.com. If you get a hit, investigate it.
And, obviously, call the references given to you. But keep in mind that contractors will only refer you to customers that didn’t have any problems. It’s more interesting to see how contractors deal when there is a dispute.
ParticipantQualcomm and Mot both had less than expected 4th quarter earnings… not sure how it translates into layoffs, but it might dampen hiring.
ParticipantQualcomm and Mot both had less than expected 4th quarter earnings… not sure how it translates into layoffs, but it might dampen hiring.
ParticipantQualcomm and Mot both had less than expected 4th quarter earnings… not sure how it translates into layoffs, but it might dampen hiring.
ParticipantQualcomm and Mot both had less than expected 4th quarter earnings… not sure how it translates into layoffs, but it might dampen hiring.
ParticipantQualcomm and Mot both had less than expected 4th quarter earnings… not sure how it translates into layoffs, but it might dampen hiring.
January 30, 2010 at 1:19 PM in reply to: 15 day advantage on repos to those who intend to occupy #507250ParticipantIt would probably be easy to explain an existing mortgage – it says owner occupied – and the definition of move up buyer is one who’s selling one house to get a bigger/better house.
January 30, 2010 at 1:19 PM in reply to: 15 day advantage on repos to those who intend to occupy #507396ParticipantIt would probably be easy to explain an existing mortgage – it says owner occupied – and the definition of move up buyer is one who’s selling one house to get a bigger/better house.
-
AuthorPosts
