Local contractors discuss how to improve your house without destroying your wallet
By Jack Firneno
Wire Editor
As the weather gets warmer and tax refund checks start rolling in, it’s the season for many to start thinking about home repairs and improvements.
“There’s a lot of pent-up demand from the holidays, but in the spring the bathroom and kitchen remodelings take off,” said Tim McHale, owner of McHales Bathrooms and Kitchens.
Buddy Ralston, general manager for Bucks County Wholesale Kitchens and Baths, echoed that sentiment: “There’s a great interest of coming out of the winter and wanting to come into a fresh new look for your home.”
For some people, that means finally getting around to some repairs. To others, it’s a chance to update a room, or re-envision a section of the house.
But, for many, it can become a major hassle — or worse, a case of money for nothing. Frauds know people are looking to get work done, and even honest but less-than-stellar contractors are hungry for jobs.
Fortunately, you can protect yourself from those who seek to do harm, and those who just may not know any better.
“Do your homework and do your research before selecting a contractor,” cautioned McHale. “So many contractors are just Billy from Philly with a cell phone and a pickup truck.”
He recounted a recent client who lost a $9,000 deposit before coming to McHales. “[The contractor’ was just gone. His cell phone changed. The guy had a P.O. Box and never came to check it. You read about that a lot.”
But, says McHale, a good contractor is just as easy to spot
“Check for Better Business Bureau ratings, and select someone qualified with a presence in the community,” he said.
Finding someone with a showroom or an office you can visit is a good sign, too.
Once you’ve selected a qualified contractor, make sure you know what you are — and aren’t — paying for.
For instance, licensed and insured may not include workers’ compensation. That means you could be responsible if a worker injures himself on your property. “Ask for both liability and workers’ comp certificates,” McHale cautioned.
And, he continued, make sure everything’s addressed in your contract
“Customers don’t realize, if it’s not spelled out, it’s not included,” he said.
This could be anything from painting to not replacing an exhaust fan or window.
Once the list is complete, communication is key. Before work starts, establish timelines with your contractor that include how many days they expect to take and what hours they’ll be working.
It’s important, explained McHale, because you’ll have to schedule around the work. And, no matter how well the project is going, no one wants it to go on forever.
“We have a rule of thumb: three weeks is the maximum capacity for patience for any person.”
But, even if you’ve got the best contractor out there, you could still be a drain on your own wallet.
“Some magazines and TV shows give people false hope,” said Ralston. “They see things that just may not work with their layout.”
Ralston said he sees many people come in with really no idea of what they want. He does his best to help them envision their new room, but sometimes all the options can become overwhelming.
“Sometimes, just wanting new kitchen cabinets leads into updating the countertops. Then they might as well do the flooring, which runs into a bathroom,” he said. “The client ends up almost up-selling themselves.”
Ralston suggested recognizing what your budget is — “Affordability is a relative term,” he noted — and to think about functionality just as much as style. “You want ample counter space near a sink or dishwasher, and close to a garbage can to establish a flow throughout your kitchen,” he offered.
And, he continued, browsing different styles, patterns or models will help you discover what you were looking for all along: “A lot of times people, have a good sense of what they want, they just couldn’t articulate it.”
