Free Estimates

We have all seen the statement "Free Estimates" but what does that actually mean. Each estimate that I do cost me something. I have fuel cost, vehicle wear and tear, office overhead, not to mention the amount of time that goes into each proposal. I probably spend over $3000 per year on free estimates. Most people would not want to pay a service fee for a contractor to estimate their potential project and part of me doesn't blame them but at the same time I wonder how many of them would work for free.

It would be safe to say that if your not serious about starting your project you will have a problem with an estimate fee. If people will tell me their plan is to start this project sometime in the future I could do an estimated budget based on conversations. This would give them a very good idea of what kind of money they will need to save. Budgeting and estimating are two different things.

Free Estimates will never go away because there will always be someone willing to take the chance and spend the time and money to do the estimate with the hope of landing the contract. As for me, I don't mind doing estimates for serious people but if your just kicking the tires of a potential project then be willing to pay for the time of a contractor to help you budget.

Remodeling my older home

If you live in an older home remodeling it will prove to be a little more difficult than most other homes that may be newer. The materials used back in the 1970's were a little different than most materials today. Our building codes have changed over the years and energy efficiency was not top priority.
If your wanting to do some upgrades I would recommend starting with insulation and windows. The windows today are dual paned low-e which allow light to enter but reduces the amount of heat that enters into the home. There is also the debate on aluminum framed verses vinyl framed windows. I seem to always lean towards the aluminum framed because of price and I don't find that the aluminum frame produces that much heat transfer. However, if you live in a wood framed stucco home there is a retrofit vinyl product that will allow you to replace the windows without damaging the stucco. If you live in a block or wood siding home the you have the option of using a nail on window and trimming them out. This is a fairly inexpensive option that I have done many times. If your budget doesn't allow a full house replacement then choose the windows that get direct sunlight first and replace them as money allows.

The insulation in your attic is another great place to upgrade. You should have at least 8-9 inches of blown insulation in the attic to get an R30 rating. The insulation used in the 70's would settle over the years, anyone crawling through the attic would disturb the insulation creating open pockets for hot air intrusion or cool air escape. If your in need of a new roof it would be a good time to upgrade your attic ventilation. There are many options but most people like to use the whirlybird because they can see them moving which means they must be working, right? Not always the case, you would be surprised to know how much air they are really moving. The better the attic ventilation the longer your roof will last and less hot air to enter into your air conditioned home.

Since April of 2010 the laws have changed when it comes to working on any home built prior to 1978. More to come on that next week.

Licensed Contractors

1. Ever since the real estate market took a plunge here in Arizona, everyone that had a skill became self employed. Now the construction industry is flooded with unlicensed contractors promising good deals. Most of these people have never operated a small business before so they are not aware of the coming events, such as warranty work. This is a part of the project that does not allow you to invoice for your time which means you don't get paid. Now I'm sure there are alot of qualified tradesmen doing the work but let's look at what the law says. According to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors "Any business which contracts or offers to contract to build, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation or other structure, development or improvement, or to do any part of the work must be a licensed contractor". The way some get around this law is "the handyman exemption" http://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01121.htm. It would be in the best interest of anyone considering a handyman to visit the website of the Registrar of Contractors @ http://www.azroc.gov/ , this site will help you educate yourself on what is required by law for every contractor licensed or unlicensed.

Another area to consider when choosing a contractor will be your homeowners insurance policy. In Arizona we are a licensed contractor state so I have been told that if you use an unlicensed contractor to do work in your home and they damage something or even worse they burn down your home, your homeowners policy will not cover the damages because the contractor was not licensd, bonded or insured. I would advise you to verify this with your insurance company.

Hiring a licensed, bonded and insured company will not guarantee you a high quality job without any trials along the way but the license does say that this person has passed the proper tests and has the experience to do the job you are requesting, the bond and inurance is there for the protection of the client. In our business we pay alot of money for this license, bond and insurance for the protection of our clients, mistakes will happen but without this protection in place the solution will be much harder to reach if it can ever be reached.

My advice to you is verify the contractors license through the ROC website, ask for some references and follow up on them. If possible visit an active jobsite of the contractor your considering. When considering more than one contractor compare their proposals side by side and don't assume they are going to do something, if its not in writing it will most likely not happen.

Homeowner repairs

Not all projects, even if they seem to be easy, are DIY projects. Even as a general contractor I know where my skills end and usually at that point I call in the experts. As much as I think I may know how this particular task should be done common sense takes over.

I started a new project yesterday. It resulted from a person buying a pre-existing home and calling for a home inspection. Just let the record show I beleive all buyers should get a home inspection done by a certified home inspector. This work started out as repairing a roof leak. After further investigation it turns out the homeowner installed his own new roof. The roof was installed improperly which resulted in tearing off all the flat roof deck material and replacing 5 sheets of plywood. The water was getting between the two roof materials so it was only a matter of time before it started showing up inside the home. The shingle portion of the roof is also installed inproperly but that is a cost my new client does not want to bear right now.

My point of this story is to say, every job has a certain skill level. There are highly educated people who know and do their job very well. My education does not go that high so I stay out of their line of work. Education does not give you common sense, so if a job appears like any dummy can do it, first talk to the dummy your trying to mimmick and educate yourself on his skill level.

Just the beginning

I started this blog because I am tired of the way our construction industry is operating. Clients are being ripped off by contractors and sometimes they don't even know it. With the market down, especially in the housing field it has given some the impression that all construction costs must be at rock bottom. What is suffering is the level of quality that goes into each job. Budgets are presented as being affordable but when the project gets underway the change order book comes out. The lowest price is not the best price. Each proposal must be compared side by side the disected to find all the missing items. This is a very lengthy process but it is something I do with all my projects. My job is to get my clients the best trade contractors at the best price.

More to come on this topic later........