Ten Questions Shell-Shocked Storm Victims Can Use to Protect Themselves From Unscrupulous Contractors

In the wake of the widespread damage caused by Hurricanes Charley and Frances, many folks are rushing to complete repairs on their homes. Before hiring anyone to perform a service; however, homeowners should ask the person doing the work several questions upfront.

Tampa, FL September 11, 2004 -- In the wake of the widespread damage caused by Hurricanes Charley and Frances, many folks are rushing to complete repairs on their homes. Before hiring anyone to perform a service; however, homeowners should ask the person doing the work several questions upfront.

Con artists quickly come out of the woodwork to prey on shell-shocked storm victims, "asking a contractor the right questions will immediately let you know if he's an upright businessman. A reputable trades person won't resent your asking," says Dan Martucci, President of Specialized Painting Services in Tampa.

Citing concern that storm victims could be targets for fraud Martucci urges homeowners to protect themselves by asking these 10 tough questions:

1: What kind of pricing system do you use?
Does the contractor work from a standard printed price list or are price estimates and discounts pulled out of the air? Be sure you use a contractor whose prices are standardized, so the price quoted is the real price, and that there are no hidden charges or add-ons. Be very wary when the contractor offers too low a price for the job. It may mean he just wants to take your first payment and disappear.

2: Does the contractor require a deposit prior to starting the job?
If the contractor requires a deposit, be certain to have a contract signed by both the homeowner and the contractor prior to any deposit being paid. The licensed contractor should always be responsible for any required permits. Never make the final payment to the contractor until all work that requires a permit is signed off by the local building department and you, the homeowner, are fully satisfied.

3: Does the contractor carry worker's compensation and liability insurance?
It is important to choose a company that provides complete coverage in all areas ranging from liability, property damage and worker's compensation protection.

4: Is the contractor licensed to perform the type of work required to repair your home?
Victims of either hurricane should ask for proof of county or state licensure, and then confirm the license number and expiration date with the local building department.

5: How long have you been in business?
Look for a company with an established business history in your community. Having no local office or phone number should throw up a big red flag. Because surviving in any
business in today's competitive marketplace is difficult, successful contractors are proud of their history in the industry.

6: What is the time frame for the project?
Now is the time to ask questions about work schedules. You should ask: What is your estimated time for completion? How early in the day will your crew normally begin work? When will they typically quit for the day? Will I be contacted about delays or changes in the schedule? If so, by whom?

7: How do you operate?
In other words, how is your firm organized? Do you have employees or do you hire subcontractors? If you have employees, what are their job descriptions and what kind of background check do they receive? Do you use a project supervisor or lead carpenter to oversee the project? Other firms will have additional positions. You should know what parts of your project will be handled by staff, and which will be contracted out to independent contractors.

8: Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
Also ask whom you should contact if the supervisor is not available. Get exact names and contact phone numbers for all persons who will be involved in the project.

9: What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?
This will give you a good indication about the company's customer satisfaction. Most remodeling businesses attribute over 50 percent of their annual volume to customer referrals; some even claim up to 90 percent or more of their total annual sales.

10: How many projects like mine have you completed in the past 12 months?
This will help you determine the contractor's familiarity with your type of project. You should confirm that a good portion of those completed projects are similar in scope to yours.

While Martucci points out that taking these steps still might not completely protect them from fraud, he stresses that homeowners should not let their desire to return to normal lead them to make hasty decisions.

Dan Martucci's company, Specialized Painting Services, delivers fair and consistent pricing along with superior quality repainting service to residential customers throughout the Tampa Bay area.

For more information, contact Dan Martucci at 1-800-446-4274 or visit http://www.specializedpaintingservices.com/

HarmonTampa, Inc.
4100 West Kennedy Blvd.
Suite 208
Tampa, FL 33609
www.harmontampa.com
813-288-6909

Contact: Erin Harton at 813-288-6909
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