Finding your Los Angeles Contractor
*How to Find a **Los Angeles**
Contractor:*
* *
There are volumes written telling us, the Los Angeles home
owners, just how we should go about hiring a building
contractor. However, we must make our own decisions, and then,
we must pray to our Angels for their help.
*Here are some suggestions as to just what we need to do: *
1. */Treat this issue as if you were
trying to locate a doctor./*
After all, a contractor is a doctor…the distinction here being
that a contractor’s calling is to cure our homes’ ills, and not
our own.
2. */We have a directory, right here,
to help us to find these physicians of the trade… so this is a
great place to start./*
3. */Pick at least three contractors./
*Three is always a good number.
4. */Check their references./* If they
have none…move on. This is a warning signal that something is
very wrong. Los Angeles contractors are, for the most part, very
reliable, but there is always that one fallen angel. That is why
screening these people is an absolute necessity. Always check
with the *Better Business Bureau* for their listings.
5. */Once this is done, choose the best
two./ *Remember, this is like taking a vote, and you cast the
final vote!
6. */Interview these final two /**/Los
Angeles/**/ contractors./*/
/Make a list of vital questions for them. Ask things like, “This
is a supporting wall, and we want it taken out. What would you
do?” This means that you need to know the answer before you ask
the question. Therefore, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Do not be naïve or
ignorant. Become an educated client.
7. */That means…never overlook the
small details./* If you are wanting fine finished carpentry,
perhaps for your kitchen cabinetry, find out who does this for
your contractor (He may do it himself). Then ask to see a sample
of the work. All quality carpenters show samples.
8. */Do not go with the cheapest
contractor/*/./ This is a common mistake. Find out from each
contractor just what are the reasons for any additional costs.
Look for the highest quality, not the lowest cost.
9. */Make sure that you
like the contractor you choose/*/./ Los Angeles contractors come
in all flavors, and you are going to have to live with one of
them for a minimum of weeks, if not months. If your
personalities do not mix well, you may want this person out of
your house very quickly.
10. */“Very quickly” is not good/*/./
It is not the way remodeling works. Just for a kitchen
remodeling job, you are looking at three to six months, and
longer for added additional rooms. Be prepared to live with a
mess. There will be sawdust flying, sheet rock dust, and lots of
noise. Even if your contractor is meticulously neat, it is
impossible for you to have a quiet, peaceful existence while the
remodeling is going on.
11. */Finally, make sure that your
contractor provides you with these three items:/*
1. Contract: GET IT IN WRITING! Make sure that you read it
carefully.
2. Liability Insurance: You do not want to be sued for your
contractor’s employee falling off of a ladder on your property.
Check with your home owner’s insurance to make sure that you are
covered.
3. Building Permits: For any job that can be seen from the
street, you need permits from the City. You do not want a City
Inspector stopping by, unannounced, just to see what you are
doing.
*In conclusion: Our relationships with **Los Angeles**
contractors can be very rewarding, but only if we do our
research and handle our end of the bargain correctly. Good Luck,
and may the Angeles be with you! *