Angel, in addition to all of this, make sure you get proof of insurance for any subcontractors hired. The box stores are to have all this in order, but make sure they can prove it and also if any permits are required in your area, they obtain those as well. I can tell you that Home Depot gave us the best price on siding, the best warranty, and they really took it on the chin when their sales manager and I had a problem with the contract and he was ready to toss a high-dollar contract down the train cause the salesperson hosed the measurement. In the end after talking to the district manager, Customer Service, etc. they ate the additional cost and enjoyed every bite. Also, they can't charge you jack for an estimate or I'd tell them to pound sand. I'd get that cleared up front cause if they want your business, they'll do the estimate for free. They didn't charge us for coming out and I made it crystal clear if they wanted the work, they'd come and give me the estimate for free.
On May 19, 2008, at 6:54 AM, Victor Gouveia wrote: > Hi Angel, > > I have used their services and have found them to be pretty good in > the > contractor department. > > A secret the person told me was that the contractor has to do a good > job, as > their position is on the line. > > You see, if they don't do a good job, it's Home Depot who has to > foot the > bill for repairing it, and then the job isn't worth doing. > > Even if you come back to them and say you don't like the colour on a > paint > job, they will try to accommodate you on the follow up job. > > It's their customer service policy, as the company can't afford the > bad > press. > > In any case, they are pretty good at doing the job, and really > professional. > > The only down side is that you don't know how much the job is going > to cost > until after you've shelled out the 45 or so dollars for the estimate > cost, > although they don't call it that, as that would be illegal in most > states, > as most consumer protection laws say you can't charge for giving an > estimate, and if you do, you must give the cost up front. > > In any case, they call it a measurement cost. > > In other words, you're paying for some guy to come out and measure > the job > out so they can give you a proper quote on the job. > > If, and, only if, you agree to go with the price, they will discount > the > measuring cost from the original price, but if you think the job is > too > outlandish, you lose the measuring money. > > One thing I would recommend is that you get a couple of quotes. > > Don't just get a quote from Home Depot, get one from Lowes also, and > from a > private contractor. > > One thing you will find is that the private contractor will always > give you > the cheaper price, as Lowes and Home Depot have to charge you retail > prices, > where as the contractor has connections to suppliers that will only > charge > him wholesale prices, allowing him to provide for a lesser quote. > > The biggest benefit to going with the big box stores is their > reputation, > and their assurances that the job will get done. > > With a contractor, you have to get references and the like, and > there's > always the time problem, as the contractor is small, and therefore > has other > projects on the go, so you never know how far in the pecking order > you are. > > Either way, you should mention to the contractor that time is of the > essence, and, for God sakes, get a contract with a clause mentioning > what > will happen if you're not happy with the job, warranty conditions, > how long > it will take to complete the project, and what happens if the job > isn't > completed in the time allotted. > > Oh, and don't forget to make sure there's a clause for what happens > with > unexpected working conditions, as they may tear up your floors, only > to find > that they have to completely remove the sub-floor and re-do it, > something > that will up the price completely. > > Hope this helps. > > Victor > Co-moderator > Blind Movie Buffs List > Guidedogs List > > > Scott Howell [EMAIL PROTECTED] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
