ITEMS
The 7 Most Important List
should be considered "no compromise" items
and mandatory in your selection process.
1. Years in Business
Your contractor should have at least 5 years, under
the same corporate name, of being in the business. With warranties
being so important, stability in your contractor should be as well.
George Taylor has 28 years of proven excellence and professionalism
with the same company name and phone number for 28 years.
2. Employees
It is important that all workers on your property are employees
of your contractor, NOT "day labor" and NOT "independent
contractors." Ask to meet the foreman for your project and
ask how many employees will be on the site that have been employed
for more than one year. Remember, these are the men and women actually
doing the work. Some of our employees have been with us since the
beginning.
3. Insurance
Insist on having all required insurance certificates sent to you directly by
the insurance companies, with your name listed on the certificate. For the most
part, this includes workers compensation and general liability, and will require
these companies to notify you if there is a lapse in coverage. At George Taylor
Painting providing insurance information is a part of our excellent service.
4. References
Ask for a list of all similar projects completed or currently in progress in
the past 12 months. This list should be in addition to the normal list of references
spanning several years previous. Much of George's work is word of mouth and repeat
business.
5. Warranties
Request a product manufacturer's warranty in addition to the contractor's
warranty. Insist on having the product manufacturer's representative
inspect the project on a predetermined schedule such as; after pressure
cleaning, after bonding sealer, after first coat, etc. and have
the representative sign a job site visit report. These reports should
be submitted to you prior to each payment. Also, be sure the warranty
is worded clearly and specifically so that each party understands
what the warranty is for and what it includes and does not include.
Here at Taylor Painting, we take pride in bringing you the proper
warrany for your job.
6. Contract
The most common problem with contracts we have reviewed is the failure to clearly
describe all specifications, exact materials to be used, application methods,
payment schedules and warranties. The more generalized these items are, the more "wiggle" room
for interpretation. After the contract is presented to you, have your attorney
review it.
7. Payments & Draw Schedules
When determining the draw schedule with your contractor, try to
compartmentalize each phase so it is clear what you are paying for.
The biggest problem we see with draw schedules is when the contractor
"outdraws" the work he collects more money than work performed.
Left uncorrected, he reaches the end of the project with insufficient
funds to complete it properly. You should always retain 10% of the
draw until final inspection. |
