Tips for Dealing with Contractors
The safety of your family home is extremely important. That's why the same criteria should apply to crucial decisions you make regarding earthquake proof safety measures that can literally save your home and comfort of your loved ones in the event of a major earthquake.
At Seismic Safety, our completed work has never been challenged in court, nor has legal action ever been taken against us in the nearly 60 years we have been in business. We stand by our reputation.
Don’t let unscrupulous contractors fool you
A suspiciously low bid from a contractor is tempting, but it can be a reflection of many things: cheap materials, poor craftsmanship, inadequate safety precautions, lack of insurance or licensing, or straightforward contractor incompetence and inexperience. Putting your house foundation repair in the hands of a contractor for any of these reasons is just plain foolhardy. And it can be very dangerous. When it comes to foundation repair, cost is not the only consideration.
Doing your seismic retrofit right
As a wise and prudent consumer, you should start by checking out any seismic retrofit company's references and reputation. It may seem like an unnecessary extra effort, but it will pay off in the long run. You'll avoid the expensive headache that comes with hiring a low-bid contractor who does inadequate earthquake bracing. Remember a sage old saying, "Quality is never the cheapest." It's a truth well worth thinking about.
So do a little homework and follow these essential steps. You'll be very glad you did. Or Better Yet, Schedule your inspection with Seismic Safety Today.
- Keep in mind that the first thing you should do when considering any contractor is to verify licensing and insurance.
- Check with neighbors, family and friends who have had work done that is similar to yours.
- Make sure the contractor has at least five years' experience and is an expert in Seismic Safety and Earthquake Retrofit work.
- Ask how many jobs like yours he's completed.
- Also ask for examples of problems he has solved for other customers.
- Remember that most business comes to a good contractor from referrals, so he should be proud to show you his references. Investigate them using this check list:
- Ask for at least 10 current and past jobs. Then randomly call at least three.
- Ask the references you call if they have a personal relationship with the contractor.
- Were there any delays? With good reason?
- Did workers show up regularly and on time?
- Was the work area maintained in a neat and clean manner?
- Were actual materials and workmanship as specified?
- How did the contractor respond to changes?
- Were the time and cost estimates held firm?
- How were questions and complaints handled?
- Was the final price held firm?
- Would he or she use the contractor again?
- Watch for the following "red flags" and avoid being fooled:
- Beware of mailers or door-to-door solicitors offering to work cheap as long as the work is done right away. This may indicate a "fly by night" operation.
- Most retrofit contractors are not insured to perform anything beyond single family dwellings. However, when you ask if they have insurance to work on multiple units, they will reply "certainly". If they truly are, they will not hesitate when you ask them to furnish you with an additionally insured certificate in your name for the project. DO NOT GO FORWARD until you receive that document from his insurance company.
- DON'T hire a contractor with only a post office box as an address.
- DON'T hire a contractor who wants you to obtain the work permit, says a permit isn't required, or wants you to pay in cash.
- Finally, your contractor should be able to provide you with a clear, written contract spelling out all aspects of the project including the scope of the work, specific materials to be used, start and projected finish dates, down payment (contract law allows no more than 10% or one thousand dollars, whichever is less) and the progress payment schedule. Be sure you understand the terms to which you agree, and NEVER sign a blank or partially completed contract.
If you have questions about Seismic Safety or how to protect your home against earthquake damage, give us a call. We will be more than happy to give you some professional guidance you over the phone!
Seismic Safety - Ed Sylvis Construction 
