Are you shopping for an honest remodeling contractor serving the Lake Geneva WI area who will provide you with the following?

• A detailed Proposal.
• A fixed price quote that won't change unless you change the scope of the project.
• A written contract.
• References.
• Testimonials.
• Before and after pictures of past projects.
• Past project walk-through.
• 30 plus years as a residential carpenter.
• A clean job site during production and a thorough clean-up upon completion.

Call Scott on his cell at 262-215-9644 for a no-obligation consultation.

You need to know how much your project is going to cost before you commit.

Contractor Shopping 101

When shopping for a contractor please be aware of the following potential pitfalls-

The "Cost Plus" contract- Actual cost of material and labor plus a percentage.

• While this method sounds attractive, be wary unless you have an unlimited budget.
• This is the favorite of the inexperienced and the paper contractor. It saves the leg work and time needed to compile actual costs specific to your project.
• The customer is enticed by a low ball  price or "guestimate".
• This "guestimate" is generally not based on actual quotes from sub-contractors or materials venders.
• Once committed there is no way to turn back. This type of open ended contract will most likely put you way over budget.
• Having been given an unrealistic total project cost in the first place the home owner has basically been entrapped.
• Without an itemized proposal and contract the customer has no idea of the quality or what the guestimate actually covered. 

The "Time and Material Contract"- Actual cost of materials (plus a possible mark-up) and the actual time on the job at a pre-determined rate.
This could end up costing more in the long run.

• It's not how much you charge an hour but how much you get done in an hour.
• There is no incentive to complete the project until the next job comes along.
• Who will be keeping track of the hours and material purchases.
• This is a great way to be put on "the back burner" and become "filler work".
• Again this is the go-to method of operations for contractors that don't want to do the leg work or don't have the contacts needed to generate an accurate proposal.
• I would reserve this arrangement for contractors you have been extremely happy with in the past.
• You still have no idea of the finished products actual cost.
• To hire a stranger out of the book on a T&M basis is asking for it. (see 1st bullet point)

The cheapest is never best
"You get what you pay for" has never been truer than in the construction buisness.

• An under-bid job could mean that the contractor will run out of your money  before completion.
• A contractor may have less overhead, and therefore charges less, maybe because he is not properly insured. Ask for a current Insurance Certificate. If they can't produce one you will be held responsible in the event of an accident or catastrophe.
• Is the contractor licensed? Be wary of those who want you, the home owner, to apply for the permit or don't want to get a permit.
• Working without permits could make you responcible in the event of a future catastrophe.
• All contractors working in Wisconsin, regardless of thier home state, are required to have two licenses.
  1. The Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification.  My ID# is 670636. This means I have successfully completed the required continuing education classes.
  2. The Dwelling Contractor Certification. My ID# is 670633. This means that I am properly insured.

 Don't forget-
The Lead Safe Renovator License is needed by any contractor working in a home built before 1978. This certification ensures that we have recieved the nessesary training to safely contain lead dust during demolition and reduce the many hazards of lead in existing building materials used before 1978.
www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf

P.S. Be sure to check out the "Construction Terms" Page Coming soon.

Total Home Make-Over
Our specialty
262-215-9644