Construction is big business in the United States, providing paychecks to 7.2 million hourly workers. Over 4.6 million are involved in the specialty trades, 68 percent employ fewer than five people and 1.8 million are self-employed. But, if you are a home owner looking for help, you’re going to be dealing with the one person who may be the answer to your prayers — or a bozo.

A case study

When the Electricities transformer on Zion Avenue in Cornelius blew on Nov. 14, plunging much of the surrounding area into darkness, it caused damage to 14 town homes in Antiquity. The power surge from the explosion fried the controllers and circuitry in all of the HVAC systems.

The builder sent owners a letter before most knew their units no longer worked, denying liability and suggesting owners contact the electrician who had wired the units during construction. Several followed the suggestion and got bills in excess of $1,000 for the repair.

Other property owners, sensing there was more to the story and suspicious of using the individual who had done the initial wiring, sought out independent electricians. Their repairs cost in the range of $500 and included, in at least one case, the installation of a surge protector designed to prevent future damage in case of a lightning strike or power surge. In this case, finding the right electrician may have been luck, but there are ways to tip the “luck” in your favor.

Ask the right questions

First, ask around. Talk to neighbors to see if they have recommendations. Stop in at a neighborhood hardware store for suggestions. We recently found a great wall paper installer by asking at the paint store.

If it’s a true emergency, ask the fire department. Fire fighters in small towns tend to know lots of people and have a good sense for skill levels.

If you haven’t a clue who to call, go on-line. Angie’s List was created for homeowners and lists residential and medical service providers by letter grade in hundreds of categories. It is exclusively a member-driven rating service where you can read detailed accounts from people who have used the services listed. Companies are prohibited from participating, so skewed results are unlikely. There is a modest annual membership fee, but people new to an area or without access to local information find it very reliable. A similar service is provided by Kudzu.

Research and references

After asking around and identifying potential candidates, be sure to ask them the right questions too. Here are some next steps:

• Be skeptical. Take time for research. Get proposals from at least three contractors. When you’ve lined them up, ask questions.
• Ask for references, then call a few names on the list.
• Ask for proof of insurance. In North Carolina, contractors with more than three employees must carry workers compensation insurance. Any contractor working in Mecklenburg county must be bonded and should have general liability insurance. As a homeowner, you want to know that you are not on the hook for costs and damages in the event of an accident.
• Spend effort to read the contract — especially the fine print. Look for one that discusses the job, materials to be used, start and completion dates, total cost and incremental payments due (and when).
• Remember to ask about the building permit. In Mecklenburg County, a building permit is required for nearly everything that is not repair. For example, if you are reroofing with the same shingles, no permit is required. If you are moving a sink or installing a ceiling fan, a permit is required. For more details on permits, click here.  The county also has a quick guide to hiring a contractor, here.

Once the job starts

Pride of work translates into safe practices. Simple safety violations are a red flag. If you don’t like what you see on the first day, stop the job. Put a clause in the contract that all safety rules must be followed, but be careful. Don’t micro-manage or you could be held liable for any mistakes and injuries. Just say “stop.”

When the job is done, make sure you are satisfied with the work and that the entire worksite is cleaned up properly. Contractors are responsible for removing debris from the site, not just dropping them at the curb. Only when you are satisfied should you hand over the final check. Once paid, you lose leverage.

Contractors are like the rest of us. Some are exceptional, most are decent folks, some have no business calling themselves tradespeople. It’s up to you to sort out the differences.