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Let
us imagine
that you are
simply the owner
of an
older, perhaps
historic building,
and wish to contract
for
its exterior restoration.
Where would you start? What would you do?
One
way would
be to hire
a qualified
preservation
professional,
tell him
to use
his own
good judgment
and to
call you
when the
job is
finished.
If you
hire the
right
person,
and he
or she
is on the
job just
about every
day to
supervise
what is
done and
make decisions
on the
go as new
situations
develop, then
you can rightfully
expect
good results.
All jobs
should
receive
such careful
attention
- unfortunately
not all
do....
Specifying_Exterior_Restoration_in_the_Real_World
Residents
can check on
contractors
by calling
the Attorney
General's Consumer
Fraud Hot
Line at
(800) 386-5438
to see if
any consumer
complaints
have been filed.
The
following
article appeared
in the
Elgin Courier
News 11/23/2007
Homeowners
Nailed By
Repair Fraud.
How
to avoid
home repair
scams
. Get written
estimates from
more than one
contractor.
. Research companies before hiring one, making sure it has a local
connection.
. Make sure the contract is specific about the job, time frame and cost.
. If the contract is signed at your residence, you have three business days
to cancel it.
. Beware of high-pressure sales tactics and dramatically low estimates.
. Beware of contractors who can't provide proof of insurance, don't carry
identification, require cash payments, or asks for full payment before
completing the job.
. Consult the Better Business Bureau at http://chicago.bbb.org.
Source: Illinois Attorney General's Office
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