Consultation
Assistance when you need it.
The State of California puts the responsibility for creating your contracts and paperwork into the hands of the General Contractors and Tradespeople. With no official “state approved” form required, contracts become subjective and often look very different from one contractor to the next. Whether they’re comprehensive, include every State requirement and not biased in protecting one party over the other, sometimes remains to be seen.
Assistance with Contracts and Legal Requirements
Architectural drawings will tell you what your project will look like and what materials it will be made with, but it’s your contracts that determine how the project will go; financially, mentally and emotionally.
I help my clients:
Review contractor’s bids and contracts to make sure all the State and Home Improvement Contract (HIC) requirements are met.
By ensuring that all contracts have their best interests represented and protected.
Create a progress based payment schedule that keeps them in financial control and at minimal risk throughout the project.
Make sure that all necessary State required and personal insurance coverages are in place. That their informed and “on time” with the filing of the legal paperwork required, such as Preliminary notices, Release of Lien, Certificates of Insurance, etc.
Assistance with Interviewing and Hiring
A challenging part of interviewing contractors and tradespeople is that your interview process overlaps with their sales process. As a homeowner, you’re trying to gauge who this person is and if they’re someone you would be safe being in a contract with. The contractor, on the other hand, is focused on making a positive impression and saying the right things.
I help my clients:
Create trade-specific questionaries to use during interviews. Questions that will get below the surface and provide a fair “apples-to-apples” comparison of each candidates knowledge, business acumen and integrity.
Be patient with the process. Meet with multiple candidates and make the necessary follow-up calls to their references.
Review bids and proposals and identify the criteria that will help with the ultimate decision about whom to hire.
Once all the communication has taken place and the paperwork has been signed, it’s time for everyone to perform. With the operation of the tradespeople and the dispensation of the money being the two lead actors.
I help my clients:
Maintain the integrity of the payment schedule when the work changes occur or request to change or deviate from it are made.
Be protected from unscrupulous up-charges.
By being another set-of-eyes on the quality of materials and craftsmanship being used.
When difficult conversations are needed or uncomfortable request are made. I help formulate effective ways to manage them.
By filling in the information blanks for them. Making sure their bases are covered and they don’t fall victim to the things they “don’t know”.
Assistance with Management
Working with Un-licensed Contractors
While I strongly discourage hiring unlicensed tradespeople, I recognize that many individuals choose to do so for various reasons. Without legal protections in place, it’s crucial to be aware of the risks involved and to take measures to mitigate potential issues. Ensuring that all construction complies with the State Building Code is a responsibility that often requires professional expertise. I can help identify these issues for you and offer practical advice to minimize your exposure.
Not all Consultation Requires Hours ofCommitment
I have numerous clients that have found a benefit in having me to contact for the smallest of questions or concerns. I’m just as happy to answer a few questions as I am being involved in ongoing projects. I’ve set my fees on an hourly basis specifically for this purpose. I can be contacted directly by phone, text or e-mail. Or by using the form on the Contact page.