Click-It Repair
Consumers Gide To Home Repair Renovation, Remodeling. Critical Questions you should ask any Contractor.
Now that you’ve decided call a contractor, which one do you use? You hire the one that gives you the right answers, but if you don’t know what questions to ask, then you might find yourself paying for less than top quality work and service. We have listed 15 questions you should ask any contractor that you consider signing with. We are so confident that after you interview other contractors with these questions, you will see the difference Click-It-Repair offers.
- What is the contractor’s license number?
A Texas residential construction business in Texas or a business that works on interior remodeling jobs that either change the size of the living space of the home or cost more than $10,000, you must register with the Texas Residential Construction Commission. You must also register qualifying projects with the commission. In addition, you want to do the following: Register your business appropriately with the Texas Secretary of State or seat of your local county government.
The Dallas Department of Consumer Affairs is the municipal agency that issues and maintains contractors’ licenses. The type of license you should ask for is “Home Improvement” license. Call the Consumer Affairs Department to check whether your contractor’s license is legitimate and current. Their telephone number is ________. Make sure you also ask whether any complaints have been filed with the contractor you are considering. (Click-It-Repair is proud to say that we have no complaints against us.) You can also order a free copy of the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Home Improvement Consumer Guide, or we can send one to you. The guide gives valuable information regarding what procedures you should follow when choosing and working with a contractor.
3-4 weeks: final touches and clean up.If you are considering hiring a contractor outside the Dallas/FortWorth area, make sure that they are licensed to work in Dallas/Fort Worth. Having a county license is not enough.
Click-It-Repair’s license number is: ____________. Feel free to check us out before you schedule any remodeling or repairs.
- What type of insurance do you have and for how much are you insured?
The law requires that home improvement contractors carry three kinds of insurance: liability, disability, and worker’s compensation. Make sure that any building management company you work carries worker’s compensation because if they don’t, you are open to liability in case of worker injury.
Most contractors only carry the minimum required insurance of $1 million. Often, this is not enough, so that you may be held liable for anything in excess of that amount if something with the project goes wrong. All of our employees are covered through Trend personnel services; this is our payroll service our employees are covered for.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF TREND:
- Trend agrees to furnish workers to Elmore Design Inc. DBA: Click-It-Repair; however, no worker shall become an employee of Trend until Trend has received and approved a properly completed application for employment, as well as any related documentation required by Trend including, but not limited to, properly completed W-4 and I-9 forms.
- Trend shall obtain workers’ compensation and employer’s liability insurance coverage (including occupational disease coverage) for the benefit of the employees of Trend that are furnished to Click-It-Repair providing statutory benefits and with liability limits of not less than $1,000,000 for employer’s liability coverage. Upon request, Trend shall furnish Client Company with Certificates of Insurance indicating compliance with the above requirements, along with Trend’s Federal Employer Taxpayer Identification Number.
- Trend shall pay any and all federal, state or local payroll taxes, which are, or may be, assessed upon labor which is furnished under this Agreement and funded in advance by Click-It-Repair Company.
- You can find our certificates of insurance under the insurance tab. A good amount of total insurance coverage to carry is at least $3 million GL, and that is what we carry. Ask for the contractor’s insurance declaration page to find his insurance coverage. If he will not show it you, this is a bad sign. It might even mean that he doesn’t carry the required insurance, which could leave you open to be held liable for the entire amount of any damage. With the large investment you’re making, you can’t risk this kind of liability.
- Do you belong to the Better Business Bureau?
Click-It-Home Repair has been a member of the Better Business Bureau since 1998 under our corporate Identity as Elmore Design Inc., and yes, we are in good standing with them. Home improvement contractors are not required to belong to the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It is a strictly voluntary membership. Those who belong must adhere to strict business practices delineated by the BBB. This includes resolving any complaints filed with the BBB against a contractor in a timely and fair manner.
Note that many contractors dissolve their business when they have several complaints filed against them, and then reopen under a different name! Check out all the names your contractor has used. Elmore Design Inc. started the Click-It-Repair as a brand name in 2009 for franchising our home improvement vision. You can verify this information with your local BBB, or check on their website: www. bbb.org.
If your potential contractor is not a member of the BBB or quit, ask why. If you have discovered complaints filed against a contractor, inquire into this as well. Make sure that you are satisfied with his or her explanation before you sign any contract.
- Which Associations do you belong to?
Click-It-Repair is a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and the National Kitchen and Bath Association, (NKNB). We are also in good standing with the Accredited Member BBB and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
Click-It-Repairs prides itself on its memberships. Certification with NARI and NKNB requires passing a screening and testing process that only the most skilled, knowledgeable, and committed contractors pass. It means that we keep up with the latest techniques and technology, maintain the highest standards of conduct and professionalism, and possess extensive knowledge of our craft. Click-It-Repair has been in business for 25 years, and our associations attest to our quarter century of success.
- How will you design my space and which software will you use?
One of the first steps to any remodeling project is to design the client’s new dream room/office/restaurant. Only until you start putting pen to paper (or computer), can you really appreciate the skill and training it takes. We at Click-It-Repair use 20-20® and Autocad. These are the standard and foremost architectural programs that have the capability of visually representing your design. A consultant at Click-It-Repair will sit down with you and help you create the room--office, store, restaurant--of your dreams.
Note that most contractors are not designers, and that this will add to your cost of remodeling. And if the contractor does not have a designer, and doesn’t consult one, you should be wary of allowing him to decide what he is going to do with your space. Without rigorous training, a contractor will not be able to anticipate all of the logistics of putting your dream space together. Click-It-Repair Consultants have many years of experience creating a room for you that not only looks like what you envisioned, but works functionally and is built with quality materials that last long after other projects that skimped on workmanship and supplies.
Give us a click today, and a Click-It-Repair consultant will meet with you to discuss all your plans and requirements.
- Do you have references available?
Click-It-Repair maintains a list of former clients and their contact information with before, during, and after photos of the work we’ve done for them. We also have letters of references and testimonials of past clients. Most of them are willing to welcome your call or email to tell you the great work we’ve done for them. It’s always a good idea to see a contractor’s work firsthand, or at least ask, since some of the “references” are not past clients but actually friends or family members of the contractor.
So make sure you ask for references of clients who’ve had work done similar to your type of project. Since we’ve been in the home repair and maintenance business for over 25 years, we have a reference for every type of project, and are happy to give you references upon request.
- How many projects are you working on right now?
You want a contractor that is busy because that means he’s in high demand. But not so busy that he doesn’t have time for you. This could mean delays and potential mistakes because the contractor has less time to attend to every detail of your project. It’s a tradeoff. A good rule of thumb is to work with a contractor who is working on 3-4 projects simultaneously with yours. You should also visit some of the contractor’s project sites. This will tell you how organized and clean he keeps his worksites, which is important to dedicated professionals.
All of Click-It-Repair’s projects have a project manager whose job it is to ensure that every aspect of your remodeling projects is done right, on budget, and on time. The project manager does not undertake any labor himself, so he has the time to check up on everything. He is in contact with the handymen everyday, and is onsite most every day. That’s how you know you can be confident choosing Click-It-Repair--we always have someone there, to take care of your project.
- What is the warranty for labor and materials?
Click-It-Repair offers a two-year warranty on all of our labor. The minimum warranty for labor should be at least for one year. That’s why Click-It-Repair offers a two-year warranty for our work.
We only deal with manufacturers who offer warranties on their products. That way, anything we purchase for your project is guaranteed as well. If you go with a contractor who doesn’t guarantee his work or materials, there’s a good probability that 1) he will not finish the job and 2) you won’t be able to find him again.
- What is your contact information?
Our physical address is a home office at 15839 Meadow Vista, Dallas, and our office phone number is 469-256-8725. In addition, you will be provided with your Project Manager’s cell phone number and his email address. It is wise to work only with contractors who have a brick-and-mortar address, literally (e.g., no trailers or rented spaces). That way, you know where to find him at all times. Click-It-Repair’s business home office is open 5 days a week by appointment please we are not in office but on your projects. We are available for you.
Be wary of contractors who only offer you their cell phone number. Many contractors change their numbers when the amount of complaints filed against them escalates. It’s easier for them to move and set up business elsewhere if you only have their phone number (and remember, they can claim their cell phone number is their office number). You really need to contract with someone you can track down at any time of the day.
- How will you purchase materials for my project?
Click-it-Repair will take you to showrooms displaying thousands of items for our clients to choose from. You can pick form cabinets, hardware, fixtures, flooring, lighting, and so much more. And if we don’t have what you want, we’ll do all that we can to get it for you. One of our consultants will answer all your questions while you choose your materials. The consultant will tell you which items will or will not work for your design space and why. After you select all your materials, we make sure that all your products are ordered and arrive on time to minimize the probability of any delays.
If you’re thinking about selecting your own materials on your own, remember, they must fit properly and work with your project. That’s why our consultants are there for you when you select your materials. It’s an extra service we provide that saves time and avoids mistakes, saving you money in the long run.
- When can you start?
Usually, you can meet with our consultant in one week to start the process. You want a contractor who can start work as soon as possible; however, someone who can start work immediately suggests that he doesn’t have many customers, or referrals, or that he is simply taking on too many projects. At the same time, you don’t want a contractor who makes you wait too long to begin work. This usually means he has taken on too many projects. When you talk with references, ask them if their project was completed within the timeframe projected, and if it wasn’t, the reason why. Often, repairmen disappear for weeks at a time to start other projects. This is costly to you. Make certain that your contractor does not practice that habit. Your project must be worked on almost every day, or you should go with some other contractor.
Our professional consultant will discuss ideas with you, take measurements of your space to be remodeled, and create for you a computer layout graphic of your dream space. Next, our expert will help you choose supplies and materials. We’ll order the materials for you, and when they come in, a Project Manager will sit down with you to discuss every step of the project.
- How long does it take to complete my project?
We would not be the professionals we are if we guaranteed a specific completion date. We’ve been doing this long enough to realize that all sorts of delays happen, from delays in receiving materials, to inclement weather, or clients simply changing their mind about what they want. If any contractor offers you a guaranteed completion date, read the fine print. It normally means “substantial completion”, which does you no good if the worksite is still cluttered, unusable, and you can’t move back in. Substantial completion merely means that all the major parts of the job are done. It says nothing for the details or smaller jobs. In home repair, always completing the entire project on time isn’t a reality; anyone who is telling you otherwise is not being forthright.
The best and most honest thing we can offer is a small time frame of when the project may be done, but advise you that we will update the estimated completion date in real time. Click-It-Repair will tell you upfront what the schedule is and give you weekly updates or more if necessary. We’ll let you know when your supplies have arrived, and where we are in the process. By delineating a detailed schedule with numbered steps, you can see exactly how your dream project is coming along.
- Will the same crew be working on my project from start to finish?
This is significant because some contractors, who overbook, move repairmen from one site to another, abandoning your project for days, if not weeks at a time. Click-It-Repair will always have someone there working on your project.
We also guarantee ‘touch ups” before you sign off on the final walk-through. Touch ups are small incomplete odds and ends that still need to be attended to after the major work is done. For example, a small crack may need repairing, an area of paint needs to be redone, a tile may need to be replaced. All of these things seem simple enough, yet this is one of the most common complaints made by remodeling clients. No one touches up the job, and it is never truly finished.
We also promise that your newly designed space will be clean as if we were never there. On the very rare chance that it isn’t, let us know. We’ll take care of it immediately. In other words, you don’t make the final payment, until we are completely finished.
- How much will my project cost? What about change orders?
The cost you pay is the estimate we give, simple as that. We’ve been doing this for 25 years, and after all this time, we’re pretty good at giving an accurate estimate. And if we make a mistake, we’ll pay for it. We can promise this because we thoroughly run through the project with you, paying attention to all the details. This kind of precision is good for you in the long run. Don’t worry about “unforeseen circumstances”. That’s another way of saying that a contractor has a right to add charges after you’ve signed with him and he’s started working on the project, and you feel that you don’t want to waste the money you’ve already spent. Click-It-Repair will not take advantage of you that way. We want your return business.
Change orders are a common fact of remodeling. Often, once clients see materials installed in their home, they want to try something else. We are happy to make your required changes. You will pay only the additional cost. You will know this because we will give you a new itemization detailing all the new charges and never double charge you for work we already contracted to do. That’s the Click-It-Repair way. With our pricing policies, how can you lose? All costs are upfront. We don’t play games by underbidding other contractors just to tack on the charges after you’ve contracted with us. We offer superior service and quality remodeling work. Most of our clients choose us because they value excellent workmanship and integrity. If that’s what you’re looking for, we’re here for you.
- What is your process?
Everyone’s first question is “How much will it cost me?” That’s only natural. If you think about it, there’s so much that goes into remodeling and renovation that it is almost impossible to give a quote over the phone. Even when a customer describes their project to us, there are always extenuating circumstances that a person not trained in handiwork will not take into account. So anyone who gives you an estimate over the phone may be baiting you with a low bid. Be careful. High quality renovation requires skill. If it’s too good to be true...
Today, there is so much to know about home remodeling, it takes years just to specialize in one aspect. Therefore, if you’re considering a contractor who tells you he takes part in every step, especially giving you the initial interview, you should 1) wonder where he gets the time to consult with you, since good contractors have several projects that he must attend to, and 2) how he knows how to do everything when it would take a lifetime of experience for one person to learn the ins and outs of all the skills that go into remodeling.
The entire remodeling process has so many steps, we have someone specializing in each one. That way, each individual can keep up with the latest trends and styles. We encourage our people to attend tradeshows and conventions to discover the latest innovations in home repair and remodeling. In addition, Click-It-Repair provides training sessions with NARI and NKNB so that tradesmen are current with the latest skills and techniques in their area of specialization.
First, a consultants will meet with you in your home or workspace to take notes, answer questions, and record measurements, all at no cost to you! Don’t believe that you have to pay for a consultation. Larger hardware stores usually require a $100 deposit. That’s a gimmick to get you financially invested. At Click-It-Repair, we are certain you will go with us because of what we offer, personal attention and high quality remodeling.
Click-It-Repair consultants consider every angle, whether special consideration is needed for disabilities, young children, or elderly family members. We also take into account what the rest of your home looks like, so that each room will flow smoothly into the next. We can also suggest energy efficient alternatives to save you money in the long run, and environmentally friendly options. We offer you all this because we want you to make the best choice, and you can only do that if you know what all your choices are.
After your consultation, we start inputting your requirements into your estimate so that your vision becomes concrete. We will work with you until you are satisfied with the new projected look of your home. At the same time, our consultant will walk with you through our vender showroom to choose cabinetry, flooring, plumbing, lighting fixtures, to make certain they are compatible with the design. Only until you are happy with the projected look of your project, will we order anything.
Once your materials arrive, you will meet your Project Manager. He specializes in overseeing your project. He will explain in full detail how the project will begin, what needs to be done to ensure the safety of you and your family, and how best to minimize noise and disruption. Your Project Manager will be available for you to contact and speak with most everyday at your worksite.
The crew of handymen/tradesmen assigned to your project will be chosen for their specialties and how they can fulfill a specific portion of your project. All of them are insured and bonded, and have passed complete background checks.
Your personal Project Manager will ensure that work is done efficiently, correctly, and as swiftly as possible. He will ensure that high standards of professional conduct are maintained, and keep you informed about every aspect of your project. By using only specialists that are the best at what they do, Click-It-Repair can provide you with the best service in town.
Now that you know what questions you should ask and what our answers are, we’re certain that a comparison will qualify us for the honor of taking on your project. Click on us today or call us, we’re ready for you!
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