| Hiring a contractor in Md. |
| FYI |
| Did you know ?? |
| The Maryland Home Improvement Commission is an agency of the Maryland Department of licensing and regulation . The purpose of the commission is to foster a high quality of professionalism and workmanship in Maryland’s Home Improvement industry ; and to safeguard the consumer rights of homeowners . It investigates complaints by homeowners ; awards monetary damages against licensed contractors ; and prosecutes violators of the law . Consumers can get access to The information about home improvement contractors by calling (410) 333-6309 or (800) 492-7521 . |
| The Home Improvement Commission maintains a Guaranty fund to compensate homeowners for monetary losses which arise from poor workmanship or failure to perform the work specified in a contract by a LICENSED contractor . Each LICENSED contractor is covered by the fund for up to $50,000 for all claims . The commission , holds hearings to determine whether the fund is liable to authorize an award to homeowners . Each award can be up to $10,000 per home owner , BUT ! guaranty fund claims cannot be used against UNLICENSED contractors. Make sure you use a LICENSED contractor. |
| What is a Home Improvement ? |
| According to the Home Improvement Commission a home improvement is any repair , replacement , remodeling or modernization of you home or property . The home improvement commission requires contractors who perform the work classifications listed below to obtain home improvement licenses : (this list is not all inclusive) |
| Additions Railings, Acid Cleaning, roofing, Awnings, bathrooms, sidewalks, boilers, siding, bricklayers, skylights bulkheads, stairs, burglar alarms, sod, cabinet installations, stucco, carports, sundecks, doors, pools, drywall, tile |
| excavating, Terrazza, Exterior cleaning, vanities, fences, wallpaper, fireplaces, windows, Floorlaying / refinishing |
| garages, painting, paneling, plastering, porch enclosures, ECT. |
| All subcontractors are supposed to be licensed and insured as well. |
| I, for one, believe that the commision serves a good funtion and homeowners need to have a better understanding of the protection that they have by using the them. They are not there for petty squables like "My paint was a shade off". They are there to protect you agaist the "CON"tractor" . The one who out & out cheats the homowner by bad workmanship, code violations, basicly ripping the public. I do all I can to put the "TIN MAN" out of business. |
| Please don't get me wrong, I don't claim to be perfect. I make mistakes and have my problems just like everyone else, BUT I do my best fix what ever it is as do a lot of the other contractors out there. You just need to be INFORMED. |
| No matter who you hire , |
| Please ; For your own protection heed these reminders, |
| 1.Avoid unlicensed contractors . The home improvement laws cannot protect you if you don’t. |
| 2.Don’t use a contractor to do the work if you feel he or she lacks the proper skills to do the job . The bargain price may be far more attractive than the finished product. |
| 3.Don’t use a contractor that you believe violates local building laws , this can not only be costly but also very dangerous . The building codes are for your safety . |
| 4.Don’t pay a contractor in advance prior to reading and signing a contract. The home Improvement commission law prohibits a contractor from demanding and receiving payment before a contract is signed . |
| 5.Don’t pay the entire cost of the home improvement job in advance . Home improvement law prohibits the contractor from receiving more than one-third of the contract price at the time the contract is signed . |
| 6.Last but not least salesmen as well as the contractor are required to be licensed and are required to carry a wallet sized copy of the license. ASK TO SEE IT! Look at the expiration date, WRITE down the license number and CALL to check on the status of the licensee and the company he/she represents. If they are reputable they won't mind waiting an extra day or so for your piece of mind, If they push you to sign, SHOW THEM THE DOOR! |
| MISCONCEPTIONS |
| If the Better Business Bureau doesn’t have any complaints Against the contractor, he must be qualified. NO, NO, NO! The BBB often does a lousy job of reporting offending companies. Especially if they are dues paying "members". |
| The October 1995 Issue of Money magazine exposed the BBB for what it really is. Many consumers believe that the BBB is a non-profit organization or Evan a government agency. In fact, the BBB is really a franchised for-profit business that often fails to give unsatisfactory ratings to member companies plagued by a history of serious complaints. |
| The BBB is in the business of selling "memberships" not "ratting on" dues paying members. Just because a contractor doesn’t have any complaints with the BBB doesn’t mean you’re working with someone who is a reputable professional. ( they are getting better though) |
| If a person claims to have years of experience, they must do quality work. |
| NO! I have personally gone behind "experienced" people that claimed to have years of experience, they may have, but it did nothing for their workmanship! |
| Take experience claims with a grain of salt. A truly qualified professional should be able to be back his or her claims with visual proof. Ask for references, local if possible and of the same type of work that you are considering having done. Being able to replace a window does not necessaraly mean they are qualified to expand the door in a bearing wall. The simplest job can be much more complex than it looks and can have devastating effects if done wrong. Investigate them for yourself! |
| SCAMS |
| Today only discounts. If a contractor ever tells you that the |
| price is 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 entitled to a "model home’ or "advertising discount". This an old trick used to pressure you into signing a contract that is probably only going to benefit the person pushing you. Quickly show these salesmen the door! |
| Avoid high pressure salesmen. |
| You should never feel pressured into making a decision about choosing your contractor. If you ever feel that a contractor is pressuring you , ask them to back off. If they persist, its time to look for another contractor. High pressure usually leads to a bad decision when remodeling. A qualified professional would never have to pressure anyone into a project. |
| Beware of "Door-to-Door" contractors. These people may not be contractors at all. Never allow them into your home until you have checked them out thoroughly! This cannot be stressed enough. Many contractors will solicit for additional work while they are working in your area by putting out flyers or they may come to your door. These could be honest, reputable people. If you are interested in their, do not invite them in. Politely ask them for their business card, address, and phone number of the people they are doing work for in your area. AGAIN, Investigate them BEFORE you hire! |
| Beware of "telemarketers" Though many telemarketers work for reputable companys, again BE CAREFUL, ask for their licence number, ask for a number that you can call to set up an appointment, ask if the salesman that they are going to send is licensed, ask for references BEFORE you meet with them. Call the Home Improvement Commision. Do not fall for the TODAY ONLY ploy. Remember these sales people are professionals at selling. They know how to push all the buttons. Most of them work on commision so they are going to get as much as they can out of you. AGIAN if they push |
| SHOW THEM YOUR DOOR! |
| Honest and reputable companys invite good competion and are willing to wait for you to decide who is the best company for your needs. If you are not comfortable with someone DON'T hire them. You can afford to wait! |
| On a personal note |
| Most people spend more time planning a one week vacation than they do a major remodel of their home. If you’re considering a remodel in the near future , sitting down and talking with a professional remodeling expert who can answer all your questions is the best advice I know. Someone who can help you though the "maze" of planning, not to mention the bureaucratic "red tape" awaiting you at the building department! Someone who listens to your every concern. Someone who subscribes to what they advise. |
| Here at V.H.I. Contractors, Inc, I believe that homeowners should know what to look for in a contractor and that there are fairly simple ways of being sure you make the correct decision in the contractor you choose. No matter, whether you are painting a room or doubling the size of your house. You need to have piece of mind that you won’t be disappointed when the job is finished. |
| There are a lot of good, qualified, honest home improvement contractors out there, CHECK OUT your potantial contractor before you sign that contract evan if he/she is a friend or a friend of a friend. |