3 Things a Home Buyer or Seller Should do to Avoid getting Rip-Off by Contractors
When it comes to contractors you’ll have a garden variety to choose from when buying or selling a Seattle home. Unfortunately, there are some contractors in Seattle that just aren’t up to snuff and should not be promoting themselves as a legitimate business. There are others that have pride and put everything they have into each and every project. Your job is to sort through the contractors and find one that is reliable, affordable and delivers quality results.
Avoid large down payments
Any contractor that asks for a large down payment before the job can be started should be avoided. No matter how good his reputation is, he should not be asking for an exorbitant amount before the job starts. While it is common to put down a down payment, you should never be asked for anything that is 25% or higher.
Any legitimate Seattle contractor will accept payments as the work progresses. This keeps the contractor accountable for his work and you don’t have to stress about the possibility of the company going out of business or doing a shoddy job.
Don’t just ask for references, call them!
While most people asked for references, few people actually take the time to make a phone call. If you are offered three references to call, it will only take about 15 minutes to call all of them and find out more about the contractor. When you are buying or selling a Seattle home you definitely do not want to end up working with an unscrupulous contractor. You already have enough on your plate dealing with the sale of a new home and an upcoming move.
Ask for everything in writing
When you get everything in writing you are protected. Don’t trust a contractor that gives a promise with a handshake. If anything does go wrong in the future, that handshake means nothing. No matter how honest a contractor looks, get everything, including quotes and small work done, in writing to protect your assets.
These are the 3 most important things you can do to safeguard yourself against unscrupulous contractors. When you are buying or selling a Seattle home you’ll need to keep your wits about you when selecting a contractor to make sure that everything is kept on the up and up.
This blog is courtesy of Adrian Willanger at Coldwell Banker Danforth & Associates 206 909-7536 helping people buy and sale homes in the Greater Seattle area.
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