I-Home improvement

[excel]

Homeowners ..................

Saw this add on Seattle's Craigslist.................

Warning Scam Artist Painter Exterior Interior Paint (Do not Hire)



I have just recently been scammed by the most unprofessional dishonest painter that I have ever dealt with. He called himself Johnny and the number he utilized was show contact info He has since pulled a disappearing act without finishing an exterior job, for which he was paid in full. He was well over budget for the project, was always late or a no show, spent the entire summer working other jobs, and did not finish my house.

He will attempt to attract you with a low ball bid and will talk all day about his expertise, yet he will attempt to get you to pay by the hour rather than the job. This is because he wants the money up front and will not finish in a timely manner or at all. He often times would not show up when I was at work and would ask to be paid while he was obviously out working other jobs. He will also make every excuse not to show up if you give him money up front. Avoid this guy at all cost

Hopefully the below might help some of you not become the author of the above add ..............

First clue is look at the picture.
No PROFESSIONAL painter wears sandals to paint a house.

He wasn't licensed & bonded.
If he was they could have went after him.

He used a low ball bid and they fell for it.

After getting his foot in the door and grooming them with his so called experience he used the bait & switch tactic to get paid by the hour.
Then he got paid up front for the ENTIRE job!

Homeowners NEVER EVER hire anyone with out a license insurance bond.

If you do and they don't pay their material bill & those materials are dropped off at your house you will be held responsible for payment no matter what contract you have.
The bond eliminates that happening to you.

If the guy falls in your home he can sue you for everything you have just because you went for the a non insured so called contractor.

If he breaks something or spills paint all over your new carpet you will have no recourse when if you had hired an insured contractor his insurance would have covered it.

Never ever no matter if they are licensed, bonded, insured pay up front.

It is okay to structure the payments AFTER work completed and inspected before handing over payment.

Always make sure what ever you pay is not bringing the contractors amount owed to zero.

If you do you are placing yourself in a bad spot because some while working at your place will find out about a better paying job and pick up their tools & materials never to be seen again because there is no incentive to finish the job because they have no integrity & the $$$$$$$$$$$ is their God!

If one asks you for money up front for materials I don't care if they are licensed & bonded something is wrong if they don't have an account to buy the materials on credit.

Here is an example of a good drywall remodel payment structured contract .........

Drywall delivered & all other materials.
Drywall installed.
After these two actions have taken place 50% paid with balance AFTER completion of job.

What this does is allows the contractor to keep cash flow going. It shows him you aren't a flake and actually have the money to do the job.
It allows him to immediately pay his installer & material bill.

What it does for you is ensure not only is all materials on the job & the board is up. By this time you've developed a relationship with your contractor & can tell if they are professional or not.
It stops you from over paying what hasn't been completed.

Can't say this enough ..............
Never EVER pay up front!

Oh and for the clowns who aren't licensed & bonded & say don't worry I'm working under a friends license here is his license # that won't work.

Here is why ..............

The contract must be with the one with the license.
When you pay them in order for that to work your check must go to the one who HAS the LICENSE!

If the money doesn't go through them you are liable if they fall or break something in your home.

The SIGNED contract must be signed by the LICENSED contractor!

I hope this helps.

I'm so tired of seeing people get ripped off.

Some of it is their own fault it's not about being educated it's because they are only interested in low bid and hey the fact is ...............

"If you think a Professional is expensive wait till you hire an Amateur"