Hiring Contractors, Remodeling, and Home Improvement & Repairs

Over my 20 years of purchasing rental properties and as a self-employed Contractor (above and beyond construction), I have seen my share of less than professional contractors. It's human nature to try to save yourself money when doing home repairs/home improvement. That old saying "You Get What You Pay For" pretty much defines the entire purpose of my Professional Consultation Services. Many homeowners' lack of knowledge can also prove to be costly if the right contractor is not chosen.

There are plenty good Contractors that share in professionalism and hold high standards. More often than not, they will not be the least expensive contractor bidding for your project. There are many questions everyone should ask themselves prior to signing contracts and securing a contractors services with a deposit. 

(NEVER give a Contractor the full amount prior to starting a job.)

Here are some of the questions you should be asking:

1) How many years has this perspective contractor been in business ? What kind of education does he or she have?

2) Are they Insured? Do they have references? Do they have a profile with the Better Business Bureau? (This is a great source when potentially choosing a Contractor.)

3) What was your first impression of this perspective contractor? (Always follow your gut instinct.)

4) Did they educate you about your job? Did they offer several different ways to do the job? (There are often several ways to do a job. Each way reflects time, labor and materials cost differences that effect the final price.)

Cornerstone Home Inspection Services, LLC will provide you with a list of inspectors and contractors FREE OF CHARGE.  When you choose Cornerstone Home Inspection Services, LLC, we want you to be able to rest assured that you have chosen the right service provider for your specific needs.  All of the service providers on our list have been tried and we can personally vouch for their performance, professionalism and work ethics. Our Preferred Vendors list of contractors is based solely on our visual inspections of their work.

Whether you are preparing your house to go on the Market, buying a house or wanting to get home improvement estimates, education, direction and cost are your priorities. 

Cornerstone offers 2 different ways to protect yourself.

Plan # 1 - We Bid a particular job as though we were the contractor coming in to do the job. As we are gathering information, we will educate you on the variety of options you may have, listing time frames, material cost and labor.

By doing this, you have now educated yourself with enough information to know if a contractor is deviating and attempting to up-sell you for potentially unnecessary work, costing you several thousands more than what it should have been. You will be able to use our bid as a guideline when interviewing other contractors. All too often, bids will fluctuate in price due to add-on items. When excepting bids, being consistent will help you to know which contractor is truly providing you with the better deal.

Plan # 1 cost - Residential or Commercial

Any 1 particular job/room......................................................$100

Each additional room..............................................................$25

Consultation/Written Bid with Home Inspection.....50% off.........$50

Each additional room .............................................................$25

Whether you are in Cheektowaga or any of the surrounding Buffalo areas, we provide the services you need.

Plan # 2 - The other option you may choose is much more involved, as we will meet with Contractor at the job after there are signed contracts. We review the job together discussing potential problems, time frames and expectations. Upon notification, we will come to the job, visually inspect and discuss any changes, problems and any add-on work due to unforeseen issues (this does happen often). Once approved, the client/homeowner can release 2nd payment due to contractor for work performed and meeting the predetermined agreements within the contract. In my opinion, the best way to protect yourself in these situations, is to clearly list the payment structure in the contract prior to signing it. As a contractor, I have found that the best payment schedule for both parties involved is as follows: 50% down at signing of contract, 25% half way thru the job if work meets the expected high standard the client deserves. And, once notified, we will do a final inspection so the Final 25% can be released if the job has been done properly. THIS ALONE WILL KEEP ANY CONTRACTOR HONEST. This takes away the undo stress that remodeling can cause and this gives you, the homeowner, an impartial inspection to protect yourself. In the event of litigation, you will have a licensed inspectors report to use .

Plan 2 costs -

3 trips to directly work with contractor.........................................$300

(Report, Inspection, Payment approval)

In the event more trips are needed.................................................$50 each

Please keep in mind, there an abundance of time communicating via phone calls. There is NO EXTRA CHARGE for this service.

Our prime goal in this service is to educate you; eliminate stress and frustration; protect you from what we call "the Band -Aid Effect" (poor work disguised as sufficient); a veteran inspector allocating on your behalf; and protect your bottom line.