How do you Spot an Honest Contractor?
When you are looking for a way to increase the value of your Texas property, save money with an energy-efficient home exterior, or simply update the look of your home, siding is a great investment. Before you hire a siding contractor in Lubbock TX, however, make sure that you’re getting someone who is honest, dependable, and provides high-quality work. Unfortunately, not all so-called “contractors” are reliable, as evidenced by this recent story:
A crooked contractor has been sentenced to two months in jail after taking money for a vinyl siding job and not doing any of the work. It’s the fourth time Philip Slobodzian of Renfrew has been convicted of violations.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services, Slobodzian and his company, Country Comfort Living Inc., entered into an agreement to install vinyl siding on a home in May 2013. The homeowner paid a $6,000 deposit on the $12,000 job, but Slobodzian never started the work.
It is not the first time Slobodzian has been given time behind bars. He was sentenced to four months in jail and ordered to pay $12,500 restitution in 2013 after being convicted of similar offences.Two years before that, he was sentenced to a little more than two months in jail and his company, PSC New Home Construction, was fined $90,00.
To avoid getting hooked by scams like this, here are three things every homeowner should investigate before paying a deposit:
1. Check with the Better Business Bureau and other industry organizations to find out if the contractor has a history of complaints. Also look at how long the company has been in business, and whether they have operated under different names in the past so you can check the full history of the contractor.
2. Ask for a copy of the contractor’s business license and proof of insurance, including worker’s compensation and general liability. You can also call the state office of licensing to check the validity of a contractor’s license.
3. Get a list of past clients’ testimonials that you can use as references, and check whether the contractor has been doing a good job. If one can’t provide references, choose another company to work with.
When you are looking for a reliable and honest siding contractor in Midland TX, contact Jones & Associates, a company which started in 1987 and has since earned the trust of many homeowners for their proven integrity and dependability. Visit www.thejonesboys.com and know why owners Jeff and L’Anna Jones are confident in saying “the proof is in the puddin.”
(Article excerpt and image from Contractor jailed for vinyl siding rip off, Ottawa Citizen, April 9, 2014)
