LARemodels

CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR

Before committing to a construction project of any kind, consider some of the following information before choosing a contractor to work on your home.

Questions to ask yourself
Getting Bids
Contractors License
References
What is a contractor

Requirements and Importance of License
Checking out the contractor
Precautions
Signing the contract
If you change your mind

Questions to ask Yourself.
What work needs to be done?
Will the work add value to the property?
How much do you have budgeted for the work and is it sufficient.
What inconveniences will be experienced while work is being done?

Getting Bids
Every home owner should get at least three competitive bids for their project. Bids will vary from contractor to contractor. Sometimes these bids will vary dramatically. Going for the lowest bid is the basic idea but it is best to beware of the "low ball" bid. This can result in unsatisfactory work that will cost you more in the long run. Make sure that the bids include quality materials that are guaranteed by the supplier or manufacturer. Competitive bids are free of charge and will ensure you pay a competitive price for your project.

Contractors License?
Ask to see their current license. Most states require that contractors be licensed. You should also verify licensing with your Local State License Board. Their contact information is also available on the internet.

References
Ask for references. This can be one of your most valuable resources. You can ask specific questions about the contractor such as, "Was the job done in a timely manner”? “Was the work satisfactory”? “Would you refer the contractor to friends or family”?

What is a contractor?
California licenses general building contractors, as well as contractors in more than 40 specialty fields. A general building contractor is the person you would hire for a job that requires three or more unrelated building trades or crafts. The general contractor might bid on a job to, say, remodel a kitchen. If his bid is accepted, he may hire specialty contractors to do, in this case, the flooring, cabinet, electrical, and perhaps other work. The general contractor isn’t required to do all the work himself but is responsible for seeing that the required building permits are obtained and that the job is done according to building code standards.

Requirement and Importance of License
In California, a general or specialty contractor, and this includes even a handyman you may hire,
is required to hold a valid contractor's license in the license category in which he or she will be working in order to perform any work valued at $500 or more. This $500 includes the cost of both labor and materials.

In choosing a contractor, it is extremely important that the contractor be licensed. This means
not automatically accepting the lowest bid for the work. Unlicensed contractors can underbid licensed contractors because often they don't have the expenses of a contractor's license, a
city license or other insurance and expenses licensed contractors have. Sometimes, their workmanship can also be inadequate and their materials inferior. They may also disappear as soon as they've been paid, leaving the homeowner with no address for them and no recourse.

Getting Bids

• Obtain bids from at least three licensed contractors. The estimates should all be based on the same building

specifications, quality of materials, labor and time needed to complete the project.

• Discuss bids in detail with each contractor to make sure you understand the variations in price.

• Ask for customer references and, if possible, take a look at some of the contractor's previous work

Checking out the Contractor

• Ask to see the contractor's pocket license or other form of identification. (The name on the pocket license

should be the same as the name of the contractor or the business under which he or she is working.) Note

the license number.

• Call the Contractors State License Board or you may look at their web site to inquire about whether a

particular license is valid. Don't assume that a license number appearing on a bid or contract necessarily

means the license is valid. Call the CSLB in Sacramento at 1 (800) 321-CSLB or access their

website,www.cslb.ca.gov, to check. You may also obtain complaint information by calling this number.

• Contractors are required to maintain a bond, which gives you some protection, if only minimal, against

any willful violations on the part of the contractor. If the bond is not currently in force, the Contractors

State License Board will tell you that when you call about licensing. More important, though, is to make

sure the contractor is reputable and performs quality work.

Precautions

• Be wary if you're asked to pay for the entire job in advance. A contractor may not ask for more than ten is

percent of the total contract price, or $1,000 (or two percent or $200 in the case of swimming pools),

whichever less, as a down payment.

• If you're rebuilding after a fire or other disaster, don't abandon your former prudence for the sake of rapid

rebuilding. A disaster brings out unscrupulous contractors and repairmen who seize the opportunity to con

victims caught with their guard down.

Signing the Contract
First, realize that anything you sign may constitute a contract, so be sure you know what you are signing. Before you sign a final contract, be sure it includes the following information and provisions.

• the name, street address (not just a post office box), and local telephone number (not just a toll-free number)

of the contractor;

• if you must obtain a loan from the contractor to pay for the project, the agreement is valid only if you obtain

financing at a given rate;

• a written description of all work to be done, including a detailed description of the kind and quality of

materials to be used;

• a bid based on the job, not by the unit (hour, gallon, board, etc.)

• starting and completion dates;

• the schedule for releasing payments to the contractor;

• a written statement reiterating any oral promises made by the contractor or sales representative, including

any warranties on materials or labor.

• that the contractor will obtain the necessary building permits.

A building permit is generally required whenever structural work is involved or when the basic living area of a home is to be changed. If your contract does not provide that the contractor will obtain the permits and he doesn't, you may be held legally responsible.

Also, if you want changes after you’ve signed the contract, be sure they are spelled out in a signed "change order."

If you Change your Mind
If your contract was solicited at your home or some other place that is not the contractor's place of business or appropriate trade premises, you have the legal right to cancel your contract within three business days after you sign it. Your contractor is required to notify you of this right. Use those three days to review the contract again, and if you should cancel, do it in writing and send your notice of cancellation by certified mail. Keep a return receipt.

Finally, don't sign a completion certificate until you're satisfied that the job has been properly completed according to the contract and until inspection has been completed by local building authorities.

From additions to remodels to custom homes, we work within your time frame to get the job done and with the quality that you expect from a company with over 24 years experience.

Thank you for considering us to work with you on your upcoming construction project. We are confident that you will find working with us to be a very comfortable experience and will be pleased with the high standards that we set as a goal for ourselves every day.

Cities that we cover are:

Altadena, Arcadia, Beverly Hills, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Camarillo, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Carson, Chatsworth, Costa Mesa, Covina, Encino, Garden Grove, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Hermosa Beach, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Irvine, La Crescenta, La Habra, La Puente, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Lakewood, Lancaster, Loa Angeles, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Monterey Park, Newbury Park, Newhall, Newport Beach, North Hollywood, Norwalk, Oxnard, Palmdale, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Port Hueneme, Rancho Cucamonga, Reseda, San Fernando, San Gabriel, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sunland, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Tujunga, Van Nuys, Venice, Ventura, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, Westminster, Westwood, Whittier, Woodland Hills, West Los Angeles, Brentwood, Malibu, California, Venice, Santa Monica, South Bay.

We do new construction and remodel in Los Angeles, Metro Los Angeles,Ventura County and Orange County.