Submitted by Milt Becker, a local retired contractor with 40 years of experience
Another week and a half, and it will be spring. If you are thinking about doing some home maintenance or improvement, you won’t be alone this season. Due to the economy, a lot of people have put off what has needed to be done. The question is, will you tackle these jobs yourself or hire them out?
Now, before I go any further, I want to bring up the subject of TV home-improvement shows, or reality/drama shows, as they seem to be. I know a bit about working around the home, as I did that for around 40 years as a contractor. I don’t want to spoil the entertainment in these shows if you watch them. I just want to warn you that they are not that educational and sometimes promote unsafe practices. As long as you are aware of that, watching HGTV or DIY Network can’t do much harm. But don’t expect to fully remodel your kitchen after a weekend of TV.
The recessionary times of the recent years have changed the picture of the home-improvement industry. It has become more difficult to find a fully equipped, licensed and insured contractor that can handle your work efficiently and to your satisfaction for a fair price. In fact, it has become difficult for the contractor to maintain status quo, as many have cut back drastically or moved on to other work. What we have these days is a fragmented work force permeated with a lot of workers that are not up to par.
Homeowners and property owners have with sure reason driven the price down for work and have gotten their way because of the competition for what work there has been lately. Many contractors, and the workers themselves, have not agreed with the reduction in wages and have left the business. Some are more immune than others, such as a plumber or electrician, where skills have to remain on point and the work is of a necessary nature. No one likes to take a cold shower. Other trades, not so much.
On the maintenance and improvement side, the situation has become what it is today, a slew of poorly paid workers, ill equipped and not properly trained, in many cases. So, as the seasons change and we get to working on our homes, it is wise to check out whomever you plan on giving your hard earned dollars to. I strongly suggest asking for references and documentation. Do not accept any reference, ask for ones close by that are recent. You want to choose the reference rather than having the person giving the information cherry-pick the best ones.
You should definitely check for licensure. Essentially, working on anything that becomes attached to a home, the landscape (even tree trimming) or anything permanent that needs maintenance requires a state contractor’s license. And that license requires insurance to be valid. It is very easy to check up on this by visiting the Contractors State License Board at cslb.ca.gov. (I know this looks a lot like “Cal State Long Beach” and that might be a good way to remember the name of the state’s site.)
In a follow-up article I will discuss some new laws that have come into play regarding work around the home, especially the presence of lead in paint. In the meantime, think safety for yourself and those around you when you get the tools and ladders out.
