Need some help

NappyFox · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject: Need some help

I'm hiring a contractor to do some landscaping on the house. Just need some info on the best way to go about this. He wants a deposit before the work is even started(says its to purchase supplies). Do any of you guys have any experience with this? I don' t want to pay him and let him run off with my money. Any advice?

Canadian Laker · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:42 pm Post subject:

I've heard horror stories about people who have paid in full and the contractors vanish. However, paying a little bit ahead of time should be fine.

Your best bet is to go with a contractor who has been referred to you or who you can confirm has done good work in the past.

Check out these links for some contractor hiring tips:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/services/homeimpv.htm

http://www.hometips.com/articles/hiring_contractors.html

Hope that helps!

chef · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Need some help

Muad'Dib · Star Player Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 3903

Ask him for his license # and some references.

The license isn't critical, imo, references are just as, if not more, important.

Go with him to the nursery/Home Depot/wherever and pay for the stuff yourself.

Asking for some dinero up front for supplies is quite common, as many landscapers don't make enough nor want to be left hanging covering a big supply bill for the clients.

Write down a contract, too, however simple. Write down what you expect to be done, when you expect it to be done by, who will be doing it, how much it will be, how the payment structure will work and what to do in case it's not finished or if there any revisions to the work needed.