Best practice advice when hiring residential contractors?

7 years ago

Hello friends,

I hope everyone is doing well. As you know, me and my family members are first time home owners.

We are in the Houston, TX area.

We purchased a lived in home, with some land, and moved in to it a couple of months ago.

As it is an older home, and also, it does have some land, there is work to be done on it.

I wanted your help in learning the correct protocol to deal with contractors, especially , individual contractos, i.e. those who do not belong to a company.

We recently put out an ad for some outdoor electrical work, and had an individual come over. As a security precaution, the neighborhood asks for ID (this is not an HOA, but a small ranch type community) of contractors, if the resident wishes to share it for their security.

So, we asked that contractor for his ID, and he told us that he did not have a valid drivers license, but had a passport from his county, and had been here for 30 years plus, he was undocumented. So, he sent us a copy of his passport from his country in South America.

Furthermore, he was not a fully licensed electrician, so, I was also concerned about that, before awarding him the job.

He came over, and gave us a quote, and was extremely pushy through text over the next few days, asking us to make a decision, because his wife was pregnant, he needed the money, he had another job far away which he would go to if he did not get this job.

I told him I needed time to decide, especially as I was sourcing the hardware, and needed to check on permits etc.

Recently, a couple of days ago, he contacts me and gets aggressive saying that he is the best electrician in town, that if anyone else would do the job it would lead to an electric fault, that I should have got the equipment by now, that he spend time and gas to make the site visit to give the quote.

Furthermore, he said I have a copy of his passport, and that he would report me to the authorities if someone misused his passport? He told me that in the past someone tried to get a visa using his passport, etc.

He is of a completely different ethnicity than I am. Night and day difference.

I informed him that I have no use of his passport details, and that I do not wish to award him the job. Furthermore, I told him that we never agreed on any contract, and that he could have charged a trip fee if he was concerned about the cost of gasoline and time, without a secure job in hand.

Given this, we want to be more careful and respectful in dealing with further contractor bids, and hope we can get some help from you.

1) Is it ok to ask an individual contractor, e.g. someone who contacts us via an online site such as Craigslist, for a copy of their id?

2) If they make a site visit, and do not ask for a fee for time and expense, are we obligated to favor them for the job in any way?

3) How does one politely decline a bid, without angering the contractor, especially if there has not been any agreement of any form.

4) How important is it for the contractor to be insured? I know this is not a smart question, but often many sole operators do not carry insurance

We want to be ethical and safe, so any help you can provide, will go a long way.

Thank you so much, your help is much appreciated.
Oxonian

Featured Answer

klem1

7 years ago

"And if here illegally you may even report him to immigration..............."

ROTFLMAO,I'm sorry Mill Man but havn't you heard,were it not for illegals there would be noone willing to do manual labor. I know it's true because a very smart lady has said so on tv several times lately.

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Comments (13)

klem1
7 years ago
No where but Texas will you find that kind of compassion.

#1.It's foolish not to ask for I.D.

#2. No,unless they make it clear before the visit a fee will be charged.

#3. I'm confident you can do it according to circumstnaces.

#4. It is of utmost importance in Houston Tx. If an uninsured worker is injured on your property,your homeowner insurance is on the hook for doctor bill and you are on the hook for the equivelent of worker's comp for lost wages. If on the other hand the worker in your example injure's you,yours or property it's laughiable to think he would take care of costs.
Oxonian . thanked klem1
User
7 years ago
1) Is it ok to ask an individual contractor, e.g. someone who
contacts us via an online site such as Craigslist, for a copy of their
id?

Not only is it 'OK", it is paramount you know who the person is.

2) If they make a site visit, and do not ask for a fee for time and
expense, are we obligated to favor them for the job in any way?

If they want a fee for a bid/visit/etc., it is up to them to notify you of that BEFORE the visit/bid/etc.

3) How does one politely decline a bid, without angering the
contractor, especially if there has not been any agreement of any form.

You just decline by saying Thank you for your bid. We have decided not to hire you.

4) How important is it for the contractor to be insured? I know this
is not a smart question, but often many sole operators do not carry
insurance.

If a contractor is not insured and works for you, you probably will be responsible for medical care for any injuries.

And, finally, I would report that person to the local codes office(to start). He has zero business trying to do business in your state.
Oxonian . thanked User
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javiwa
7 years ago
Oxonian: welcome to the area! We've been in SW Houston suburbia for 25 years, and are going through our personal hell with a kitchen renovation. As I was trying to educate myself as a homeowner/consumer, I bookmarked two sites that may be a good starting point for you:

https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/home-remodeling-and-repair

https://www.license.state.tx.us/

You're basically on your own with this stuff, but at least the information's online if you're willing to dig. Remember that NOT doing the research or pleading ignorance won't hold up in court, if something goes badly. Good luck.
Oxonian . thanked javiwa
millworkman
7 years ago
"If a contractor is not insured and works for you, you probably will be responsible for medical care for any injuries."

As well as anything he may damage/destroys on your property or home.
Oxonian . thanked millworkman
millworkman
7 years ago
And if here illegally you may even report him to immigration...............
Oxonian . thanked millworkman
gregbradley
7 years ago
Do you actually expect to run an ad on Craigslist and get any responses from a legitimate contractor?

This person clearly had no license, no insurance, etc. He drove there with no driver's license? He shouldn't be allowed to step foot on your property as the liability is too high.

Best thing you can do is ONLY hire someone that comes from a personal recommendation. Ask your friends who they hired for that type of work.
Oxonian . thanked gregbradley
millworkman
7 years ago
I was half serious and have being facetious klem. And you have added to my fusion as I don't seem to recall a very smart women saying that on tv recently, lol.
Oxonian . thanked millworkman
Oxonian .
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you. I am going to read through this great advice once again. I wanted to thank you all for the replies thus far.
cat_ky
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I just have to ask. Have you considered looking in the yellow pages in the phone book for a licensed and bonded electrician? Electric done improperly and not up to code, is a fire hazzard. A good electrician is important.
sambah006
7 years ago
" I know it's true because a very smart lady has said so on tv several times lately."

Ha Ha. Everything she says is 100% honest 100% of the time. Never ever ever been anyone more honest.
sambah006
7 years ago
"Best thing you can do is ONLY hire someone that comes from a personal
recommendation. Ask your friends who they hired for that type of work"

And pray really extra hard to Jesus too and tell him you'll be super good if you can just get a good contractor.

Sorry folks, good contractors are out there. But it's almost as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack. Be happy if you can find one who isn't just a total hack.
klem1
7 years ago
On the subject of finding good contractors or more accuratly getting your money's worth out of them. A developer recently bought several acres accross the road from me. They have been doing dirt work and surveying over the last month while the wife and I watch from our deck. Workers routinly arrive at 7am,work for 30 minutes,a truck leaves then returns with snacks and drinks. 45 minutes to 1.5 hrs are spent consuming snacks before about half of workers return to the machines which were idleing the whole time. Work continues for another hour before they stop one by one and sit for an hour or two while drivers nap in the air conditioned cabs. The routine is repeated every day. Mind you this developer has been around for years and has multiple jobs underway at any given time. If an experienced company can't find good help,what are the odds for homeowners?

Best practice advice when hiring residential contractors?

klem1

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Best practice advice when hiring residential contractors?

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