I am not sure how to ask this so I will just put it out there......perhaps for most people this isn't a problem.. but it GRRRRR... is for me.

I get taken advantage of and I am tired of it.. what can I do to help the situation.. it particularly happens when I am not feeling well when my ED is out of control... but I just have to face it... it happens all the time.. I get so angry with myself for not handling things well.

Latest... painter who I had a contract with claimed he meant only the outside of the porch brickwork, not the inside... so it cost me an "arm and a leg" for just about 1/2 of what I wanted done... I had a contract where it said "porch brickwork".. it is what we discussed doing both inside and outside but he refused to do inside.

This one really hurt: I responded to a woman in an ad on craigs list asking for help with finding baby items for a new program that her church was setting up to help teenage girls.. so I run all over town picking up donations (with just all kinds of construction going on and I get lost at a drop of a hat) and really all I wanted to do was help organize cause driving is not my forte.. but I felt so bad for this woman that she said her car just broke down and now she couldn't do the pick-ups... well, what an idiot I am - it was a ruse to get clothes for her own family... which if she had just been honest - there would have been people that would have helped her.

I could go on...

I asking for helpful comments - do you have a list of questions that you ask people before you help or contract wih them? I've owned a house for years but I try to do as much as I can because when I hire someone it is a disaster...how do you enforrce a contract or an agreement?

and not helping people is not an option for me... I will continue on but the last one... grrrr...

Thank you for all that respond.. I would really like some pointers...

Thanks... freewill

[selfy]

hmmm crappy situation... ((((((((huggies)))))))
i dont know really, i wish i could give u advice....but i dont know anything about contractors and stuff
hope things get better
take care
self

[Wants2Fly]

Hi there -- I'm sure there are online places with specific information about this. You have to be careful with these fellows, get everything in writing beforehand.

OK, well I do know about contractors. Please listen cos there's no other way to be sure you won't get "taken".
You MUST get a referral from someone you know.
If you want a painter, ask your neighbors or friends or even a stranger, under the appropriate circumstances, if they know of a good one.
Or easier, go to your local paint store (not a Big Box) and ask there.
If you need, say a fence or a deck installed, go to a lumberyard and ask the sales people who they recommend.
If you need an electrician, go to a local lighting/electrical supplier and ask., etc.
Do not, under any circumstances, hire contractors who put ads up! Anyone who's any good will have PLENTY of work without advertising!

true, grtplayer..............very true...........AND when you do talk to one, ask him for three references,where he has done work, names and phone numbers......

[chalmette70043]

Hi Freewill. I am an operations mngr for a homegrown construction company started after katrina by a man wanting to help and rebuild his neighborhood. I know of many of the horror stories you talking about. Someone mentioned to you about referring to people in the business, friend and family for hiring contractors. I totally agree with that. That's the way we get work, by word of mouth. When you sign a contract with the contractor make sure every single little thing is in there that you need done, even down to the nit picky stuff. If the contractor is an honest individual, they will not cause problems for you, they will work it out with you.

If you have any questions about any work you need done and just want to bounce it off of someone, feel free to pm me, if i dont know, i will ask the crew. I'm still learning myself, but i also know what it is like to be taken advantage of.

chalmette70043

[Direction]

I agree with grtplayer amd Chalmette...

Other ideas...

Check with Better Business Bureau

Get at least three references and call them

Google business name on line

Written contract - as was said absolutely everything in writting...any change orders must be in writting and both signatures

Ask who will be doing the work - they may subcontract out all the work and do nothing...so contract should indicate no subcontractors with out written approval.

Insurance - get a certificate - Worker's comp, auto, general, and an umbrella - minimum coverage one million

I could go on and on...I could PM you a copy of the language we use for property management. You could easily modify it. By the way we never sign a contractors agreement - we provide our agreement for them to sign...it is fair probably weighted in favor of us...

Thank you one and all....

From your posts, I have many new "tools" in my toolbox to get a contractor and not get "taken"...