When you are about to embark on a large construction or renovation project from small maintenance jobs to major renovation projects like basement conversions, obviously you want the best and most qualified tradesmen to do the job. Construction projects are extremely costly; for this reason and many others you will want to be sure you are getting the finest quality work that you can.
The one thing you will want to avoid when you undertake a new construction or remodeling project is the cowboy builder. Though most tradesmen or honest, it is not unheard of to come across some who will lie, and cheat you out of money. At the same time, a cowboy builder may not necessarily be a liar and a cheat; they may simply be unable to perform the job sufficiently to your standards.
One way you can avoid the cowboy builder is to always ask to see credentials before allowing work to begin. A quality tradesman will have training in their specific field of expertise, no matter if they are in plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, etc. Many cowboy builders may claim to have expertise in all, or most construction trades, though they rarely do. This is why it is important to ask to see credentials when you hire someone to do a job.
A busy tradesman may indicate the quality of the builder’s work. Most highly trained tradesmen will be very busy, as they will likely have many clients, while at the same time a cowboy builder may have a completely open calendar. Though this will not always indicate quality, it is something to look for when deciding on a contractor for your construction project.
Another method you may use to identify a cowboy builder is to ask them about their liability insurance, and what their contract terms are. Many cowboy builders will not bother with insurance, nor do they like to deal in written contracts.
Unfortunately, because many cowboy builders run their business in this way, every year a lot of people who set out to have a construction project completed, end up with shoddy, substandard work that they are unable to do anything about.
Some steps you can take to protect yourself from the cowboy builder include,
- Don’t be fooled by a friendly manner. Though the tradesman may seem like the most likable and trustworthy person in the world, do not go by this alone. Cowboy builders are well known for having a friendly manner that encourages trust.
- Ask for references. If they are reputable tradesmen they will likely have a long list of references that you can check. Always check these references, and ask about the builder’s quality of work, as well as their ability to keep to the contract terms.
- Get quotes! Before deciding to hire a specific tradesman for your project, be sure that you have looked around, and received quotes from a few different builders. In this way you will not only get a better price, but also you will have the opportunity to hire the tradesman who is best qualified for the job.
- Ask for a contract. A reputable tradesman will nearly always have a contract that should be signed by both parties. Beware of those tradesmen that say they do not require a written contract.
- Always ask about warranty and liability insurance. When you hire a builder, especially if it is a large project, you will want to be sure that they have an insurance backed warranty to cover their work. In addition to this, ask for verification that they carry liability insurance. Both of these are important for your protection, as well as the protection of others incase an accident should occur during construction – a good builder cares about the wellbeing of his employees and will responsible for supplying adequate safety equipment. This will also protect you if you are not satisfied with the quality of work. Cowboy builders will usually not offer either a warranty, nor proof that they are covered by liability insurance.
- Don’t agree to a cash deal. Some cowboy builders will ask you if you’d like to deal in cash in order to avoid VAT; this is not a good idea, as you will have no record of how much money you have paid them, or how much the agreed upon price is. Dealing in cash will also open the door for them to skip out on the work and take your money with them.
- Do not pay in advance. You should never agree to pay for work in advance, even if you have been offered a discount to do so. Most reputable builders will have a schedule that outlines when each, agreed upon payment is due, and in most cases at least some of the work has been completed before you make the first payment. If you agree to pay for the work before it is done, you may end up with a substandard job, or possibly not getting any of the job completed.
- Only hire builders who belong to a trade association. Though some cowboy builders may go as far as showing you a false card that identifies them with a particular trade organization, you should always verify a member’s standing yourself by calling the trade organization.
- Don’t be pressured into a decision. Any reputable tradesman will understand that you will want some time to come to a decision, if they appear to be pushing you into deciding now, you may want to step back and consider your options carefully. Cowboy builders are notorious for being pushy.
- Ask who supplies their materials. Not only do you want your builder to be highly qualified for the job, but you will also want them to use high quality materials. Ask them who their supplier is, and who manufactures the materials they use. For example, for concrete you will want them to use only the best construction chemicals supplier and construction chemicals manufacturer.
If you want the highest quality work for your construction or remodeling project, know how to recognize and avoid the cowboy builder. For a quality job, you will only want to hire the most qualified builders to complete your project.
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