Contractor Disasters

I just got off the phone with a property manager who uses our property management software and she was fit to be tied over a contractor she was working with on a house she manages. I could feel the heat of her anger through the phone! Appearantly the contractor she hired started a roof tear-off (cause it was showing signs of leaking) and then got pulled to another job.  Oh, and the roof was off.  Oh, and it's winter.  Yikes!!!

These photos were taken from a beach-house my husband "patched" up."  He basically had to rebuild the home from the foundation up, but luckily for his customer, he was skilled and prepared and dependable.  Having your home ripped apart and exposed to the elements can be a disaster if not handled correctly.  

  

Never underestimate the value of having a trusted contractor in your back pocket.  Be sure your resource is know to actually show up (funny, this is what he hears new customers complain about most - don't people need work?!?)  Be sure they understand local building code and how to maneuver the paperwork trail.  Find out from references if they clean up their messes (and don't pee in the front yard...seriously, that was a question a new customer asked... really? Your old contractor peed in your front yard?!?) And that they treat your opinions with respect... you are writing their paycheck!  And then be nice to them and take good care of them (a cup of coffee on a cold morning goes a long way.)

 

Janell K. is a member of Rentec Direct, a web-based property management software solution, offering tools to Landlords and professional Property Managers, including tenant screening.