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Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 26D
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Sunday, April 12,1 MS
Secrets to successful and less stressful home remodeling
By W. Anders Fusia
Aurora Home Improvements
When you remodel, you should be
getting that wonderful peace of mind
that comes from being in complete
control, working with someone who
understands your needs and your
goals. This person should be someone
who is licensed, carries general liabili
ty and workers’ compensation insur
ance, is qualified to perform the work,
and can take your project from concept
to completion.
Here are the six secrets To success
ful remodeling.
Secret #1
Avoid common misconceptions
1. Goinj with the lowest price
saves you money. NO, not necessarily!
Everyone tends to look for the lowest
price. On a low estimate, you must ask
yourself what is being left out or what
short-cut is being taken.
One roofer had his re-roof job S3OO
cheaper than anyone else. The home
owner wanted to save money and
accepted his proposal. After the job
was completed, all the old shingles and
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SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT
nails were still lying around the yard
and shrubs and the homeowner was
having a fit The contractor told them
that he had not figured the clean-up in
his proposal and that was how he
could do the job so much cheaper.
One of the most common signs of
trouble ahead is someone offering to
do work for much less money than
others. Like anything else, you can’t
get something for nothing. Be careful
of choosing your remodeler based
upon the lowest price.
2. Doing it yourself saves money.
NO! Sometimes the “weekend war
rior'’ can undertake small projects like
painting, hanging wallpaper, routine
repairs, etc. But beware of undertaking
larger, more complicated projects.
What starts out as an attempt to save
money can turn into a costly folly. All
too often the job is botched and it
costs more to have a professional
come in and fix what’s been done.
According to an article in the
Baltimore Sun, less than 20 percent of
these do-it-yourself jobs work out.
This is mostly due to lack of experi
ence on the part of the homeowner. If
you want to be assured your project
will turn out the way you want it, call a
qualified professional.
3. If the Better Business Bureau
doesn't have any complaints against
the contractor, he must be qualified.
NO, NO, NO! The Better Business
Bureau (BBB) often does a lousy job
of reporting offending companies.
Especially if they’re dues paying
“members.”
The October 1995 issue of Money
Magazine exposed the 888 for what it
really is. Many consumers believe that
the 888 is a non-profit organization or
even a government agency. In fact, the
888 is really a franchised for-profit
business that often fails to give unsatis
factory ratings to member companies
plagued by a history of serious com
plaints.
The 888 is in the business of sell
ing “memberships” not “ratting on”
dues paying members. Just because a
contractor doesn’t have any complaints
with the 888 doesn’t mean you’re
working with someone who is a rep
utable professional.
4. If a person claims to have many
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years of experience, they must do
quality work.
NO! I can’t tell you how many
people receive bad workmanship from
contractors who’ve claimed to be in
business or the trade for 20 years. Take
experience claims with a grain of salt
Don’t believe just because a person
has 20 years experience, he will do a
good job. He could have done a poor
job for 20 years. Investigate further to
ensure you’re dealing with a qualified
professional.
Secret #2
Common Scams
1. Today-only discounts. If a con
tractor ever tells you that the price is
available for “today only” it’s time to
show him the door.
Quite often they’ll provide you a
story that by signing today you’re enti
tled to a “model home” or “advertising
discount” The story centers around the
need to use your home as a model to
advertise their services in the neigh
borhood. They mark their prices up
just to give you this false discount.
Don’t be fooled. This is an old trick
used to pressure homeowners into
making a quick decision. This is your
money we’re talking about! Quickly
show these salesmen the door!
2. Avoid high pressure salespeople.
You should never feel pressured into
making a decision about choosing
your contractor. If you ever feel that a
contractor or salesman is pressuring
you, ask them to back off. If they per
sist, it’s time to look for another con
tractor. High pressure usually leads to
a bad decision when remodeling. A
qualified professional would never
have to pressure anyone into a project.
3. Beware of “Door-To-Door” con
tractors. These people may not be con
tractors at all. Never allow them into
your home until you have checked
them out thoroughly! This cannot be
stressed enough. It has been reported
that two men claiming to be contrac
tors have entered into a home and
while one took the homeowner on a
pretend inspection, the other guy was
going through purses and picking up
items that could be sold quickly.
See SECRETS, Page 27D
