THE FIX-IT GUYS: CONTRACTORS:
Who are these contractors and where do they come from? If purchasing from the orange guys or the blue guys, these "hand picked", "qualified" contractors are furnished to customers, doing the install work for an additional fee, sometimes set but often negotiated. This allows a customer to have the convenience of buying products at the store and having a contractor hired before leaving. For the retailer, this method of doing business makes a project that is too big for a do-it-yourselfer to be achieved through offering select contractors. This business strategy has the intended effect of increasing sales of the most profitable products sold in the store.
The selection of product and contractor at one store has become the trend, but the local and/or regional contractor dominates the market for home improvement installation.
When the products perform and when the installation is done correctly and safely, completed at the price quoted, the consumer and contractor are happy. But what happens when the work is not done properly? What happens when the products are not performing as warranted? What happens when the installer has been deceptive or misleading, charging more than quoted or not providing the level of quality guaranteed? What if they fail to finish the job? What happens when the building inspector comes by after completion and advises that it must all be re-done for code violations?
Because many states fail to require certification for home improvement contractors, the quality of work done for a given task varies greatly. Some contractors are simply not capable of doing a job they undertake, or worse, may have little pride in the quality of their work. Whether or not they have insurance to cover for damage or loss of property also is a concern that may not arise until after the fact.
A consumer should be wary, on guard and exceptionally thorough in the selection, hiring, contracting and compensation of professional contractors anytime a home improvement project is undertaken. Failing to do so can result in substantial loss of money, damage to a home or unsafe conditions.
