Opinion
Summer can be a great time to start home improvement projects, but you may not be able to tackle them all on your own.
Hiring a contractor may be helpful, but it’s important to do your research before you begin! In 2017, consumers nationwide filed more than 5,000 complaints on general contractors with BBB.
Common complaints for contractors include sales practices, followed by refunds. Consumers also submitted complaints related to contractors performing work and being unable to reach customer service or get a refund.
Follow these tips to ensure you are hiring a trustworthy contractor:
– Find a contractor you can trust. Start with trust and find a contractor on bbb.org. There you can see their rating, complaint history, reviews from past customers, and whether they’re a trustworthy BBB Accredited Business. Ask for references from friends and family as well.
– Research their track record. You can search for a contractor’s business profile at bbb.org to see if they are a BBB Accredited Business, get free information on their history of complaints, and read verified Customer Reviews. Also ask for local references, and speak with those customers about their experience with the vendor and the quality of work. If possible, inspect the contractor's work yourself. Ask if the contractor is a member of a professional association that has standards or a code of ethics.
– Watch out for contractors who have: high upfront payments, cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, “handshake” deals without a contract, and on-site inspections. Learn more at www.go.bbb.org/generalcontractors.
– Always double check licensing and insurance. In California, any contractor working on a project that is valued at $500 or more for labor and materials must hold a license from the Contractors State License Board. CSLB licenses contractors in 44 different classifications, so verify that the contractor holds a license for the work you are having done. You can check the status of a license on CSLB’s Web site. It’s also important to verify that they’re insured – ask to see a copy of their Certificate of Insurance, or ask for the name of the insurance carrier and agency to verify independently.
– Inquire about a lien waiver. A lien waiver is a statement from your contractor that says all suppliers and subcontractors have been paid for their work.
– Get it in writing. Always get estimates in writing and never let any work begin without a written and signed contract. Do not be pressured into signing an agreement before you are ready, and make sure you read and understand everything before signing. The contract should include contact information, start and completion dates, and a detailed description of the exact work to be done, any material costs, payment arrangements, and warranty information. Specify who is to obtain necessary building permits and who is responsible for clean-up. Make sure all verbal promises are included in the contract. It’s also important to ask questions such as information on the subcontractors, how much work will be subcontracted, and any other questions you may not understand on the contract. Never sign an incomplete or partially blank contract.
– Ask for multiple quotes. You should always shop around and get at least three quotes from different businesses. Make sure all bids consider the same set of criteria. Remember that the lowest bid may not necessarily be the best bid; if one bid is significantly lower than the others are, the contractor may be cutting corners or may not understand your work requirements.
If you’re exposed to a home improvement scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker to help warn others.
If you work with a great company on your home improvement project, leave them a Customer Review.
And if you’re not satisfied with an outcome, you can file a complaint with BBB.
Evan Arnold-Gordon is with the Better Business Bureau serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.
Hiring a contractor may be helpful, but it’s important to do your research before you begin! In 2017, consumers nationwide filed more than 5,000 complaints on general contractors with BBB.
Common complaints for contractors include sales practices, followed by refunds. Consumers also submitted complaints related to contractors performing work and being unable to reach customer service or get a refund.
Follow these tips to ensure you are hiring a trustworthy contractor:
– Find a contractor you can trust. Start with trust and find a contractor on bbb.org. There you can see their rating, complaint history, reviews from past customers, and whether they’re a trustworthy BBB Accredited Business. Ask for references from friends and family as well.
– Research their track record. You can search for a contractor’s business profile at bbb.org to see if they are a BBB Accredited Business, get free information on their history of complaints, and read verified Customer Reviews. Also ask for local references, and speak with those customers about their experience with the vendor and the quality of work. If possible, inspect the contractor's work yourself. Ask if the contractor is a member of a professional association that has standards or a code of ethics.
– Watch out for contractors who have: high upfront payments, cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, “handshake” deals without a contract, and on-site inspections. Learn more at www.go.bbb.org/generalcontractors.
– Always double check licensing and insurance. In California, any contractor working on a project that is valued at $500 or more for labor and materials must hold a license from the Contractors State License Board. CSLB licenses contractors in 44 different classifications, so verify that the contractor holds a license for the work you are having done. You can check the status of a license on CSLB’s Web site. It’s also important to verify that they’re insured – ask to see a copy of their Certificate of Insurance, or ask for the name of the insurance carrier and agency to verify independently.
– Inquire about a lien waiver. A lien waiver is a statement from your contractor that says all suppliers and subcontractors have been paid for their work.
– Get it in writing. Always get estimates in writing and never let any work begin without a written and signed contract. Do not be pressured into signing an agreement before you are ready, and make sure you read and understand everything before signing. The contract should include contact information, start and completion dates, and a detailed description of the exact work to be done, any material costs, payment arrangements, and warranty information. Specify who is to obtain necessary building permits and who is responsible for clean-up. Make sure all verbal promises are included in the contract. It’s also important to ask questions such as information on the subcontractors, how much work will be subcontracted, and any other questions you may not understand on the contract. Never sign an incomplete or partially blank contract.
– Ask for multiple quotes. You should always shop around and get at least three quotes from different businesses. Make sure all bids consider the same set of criteria. Remember that the lowest bid may not necessarily be the best bid; if one bid is significantly lower than the others are, the contractor may be cutting corners or may not understand your work requirements.
If you’re exposed to a home improvement scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker to help warn others.
If you work with a great company on your home improvement project, leave them a Customer Review.
And if you’re not satisfied with an outcome, you can file a complaint with BBB.
Evan Arnold-Gordon is with the Better Business Bureau serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.
- Details
- Written by: Evan Arnold-Gordon
The gospel of Mark 6:3-4 says, “And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.’”
When I read the Gospel lesson for today, I said to myself, “can I relate to this or what.” Jesus going home, “Home sweet home?” Not by a long shot.
This carpenter guy, I mean that son of Mary and Joseph, you’ve got to be kidding me! A prophet, the Son of man, give me a break! Who does he think he is? He should have just stayed playing his game of life as a carpenter and left well enough alone! BUT NO! He wants to come off as a prophet … some even says he calls himself the son of God himself. Can you believe that?
Well, I can. I can relate to the folks do not have the faith to believe that this is God at work. And so, I thought about how this would play out for me if I ever went back to my hometown and walked around the city with my clergy collar on and started preaching at the local churches.
Did you hear that DelCol came back from California and he says he is a pastor? HUUU! A pastor, no way, Yes way! I thought he was an electronics engineer. Nope, pastor now! You can’t be talking about the same DelCol, I mean Chris DelCol that I am thinking of, could you? Oh yes, I am.
How in Heaven’s name does He think He can be a man of God, I mean look at his past.
The Chris DelCol I know was that little guy, maybe 3 or 4 years old, riding down the road on his wagon, completely nude, his toe chewed to bits from getting it caught in the rear wheel … that kid took his clothes off every time he could sneak out of the house and I am told he would hide them, so his mother would never be able to find them. Are you talking about that Chris DelCol, the world’s first streaker? Not in this town!
The DelCol that caused chaos in high school wherever he went? Not in this town!
I am telling you, this can’t be the same Chris DelCol I know … I heard he ran to California to get away from the cold weather … what a wimp … can’t be the same guy, can’t be … not in this town! That’s him …
Get an idea of what it’s like to go home to a town that doesn’t want to believe that it could possibly happen? Not in this town they say! What would the people of your hometown say if you went there and announced to them you were a pastor, or even more significant, the Son of God? You’d be thrown in jail as a lunatic, right.
Such is the case with Jesus in the above Scripture. “Headline Nazareth … Jesus comes home … Heaven forbid!”
There is a sadness that goes with rejection. A sadness that is difficult to explain … one must experience it to understand it. A handicapped person being laughed at because they look different or act different and they can’t help it, but the people laugh nonetheless. A spouse who thought his wife loved him but knows now it was just for his money, and she wants it all, and she wants it now, a church which opens its doors to all people except those who don’t add up to the standard. Rejection! Thank God for First Lutheran where everyone is welcome!
And then we have Jesus who is dealing this day with a rejection beyond anything we can imagine. This man is about to die for His friends … he says himself in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.”
The rejecters are His friends, even His family. They are the very people turning their backs on Him yet His journey to the cross continues with the sin of all who reject Him on His very back.
We will talk more about this on Sunday. Please join us at First Lutheran Church in Lucerne on July 8 for our contemporary service. Bible study starts at 9:30 a.m., with worship at 11 a.m. followed by lunch.
Everyone is welcome so come as you are.
Chris DelCol is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lucerne, Calif. The church is located at 3863 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-5572. Email Pastor Chris atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
When I read the Gospel lesson for today, I said to myself, “can I relate to this or what.” Jesus going home, “Home sweet home?” Not by a long shot.
This carpenter guy, I mean that son of Mary and Joseph, you’ve got to be kidding me! A prophet, the Son of man, give me a break! Who does he think he is? He should have just stayed playing his game of life as a carpenter and left well enough alone! BUT NO! He wants to come off as a prophet … some even says he calls himself the son of God himself. Can you believe that?
Well, I can. I can relate to the folks do not have the faith to believe that this is God at work. And so, I thought about how this would play out for me if I ever went back to my hometown and walked around the city with my clergy collar on and started preaching at the local churches.
Did you hear that DelCol came back from California and he says he is a pastor? HUUU! A pastor, no way, Yes way! I thought he was an electronics engineer. Nope, pastor now! You can’t be talking about the same DelCol, I mean Chris DelCol that I am thinking of, could you? Oh yes, I am.
How in Heaven’s name does He think He can be a man of God, I mean look at his past.
The Chris DelCol I know was that little guy, maybe 3 or 4 years old, riding down the road on his wagon, completely nude, his toe chewed to bits from getting it caught in the rear wheel … that kid took his clothes off every time he could sneak out of the house and I am told he would hide them, so his mother would never be able to find them. Are you talking about that Chris DelCol, the world’s first streaker? Not in this town!
The DelCol that caused chaos in high school wherever he went? Not in this town!
I am telling you, this can’t be the same Chris DelCol I know … I heard he ran to California to get away from the cold weather … what a wimp … can’t be the same guy, can’t be … not in this town! That’s him …
Get an idea of what it’s like to go home to a town that doesn’t want to believe that it could possibly happen? Not in this town they say! What would the people of your hometown say if you went there and announced to them you were a pastor, or even more significant, the Son of God? You’d be thrown in jail as a lunatic, right.
Such is the case with Jesus in the above Scripture. “Headline Nazareth … Jesus comes home … Heaven forbid!”
There is a sadness that goes with rejection. A sadness that is difficult to explain … one must experience it to understand it. A handicapped person being laughed at because they look different or act different and they can’t help it, but the people laugh nonetheless. A spouse who thought his wife loved him but knows now it was just for his money, and she wants it all, and she wants it now, a church which opens its doors to all people except those who don’t add up to the standard. Rejection! Thank God for First Lutheran where everyone is welcome!
And then we have Jesus who is dealing this day with a rejection beyond anything we can imagine. This man is about to die for His friends … he says himself in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.”
The rejecters are His friends, even His family. They are the very people turning their backs on Him yet His journey to the cross continues with the sin of all who reject Him on His very back.
We will talk more about this on Sunday. Please join us at First Lutheran Church in Lucerne on July 8 for our contemporary service. Bible study starts at 9:30 a.m., with worship at 11 a.m. followed by lunch.
Everyone is welcome so come as you are.
Chris DelCol is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lucerne, Calif. The church is located at 3863 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-5572. Email Pastor Chris at
- Details
- Written by: Pastor Chris DelCol
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