Before You Hire A Contractor: A Construction Guidebook For Consumers
Gonzalez, a certified residential contractor, tells consumers how to avoid the pitfalls of home improvement and construction. He argues that consumers must educate themselves and specify exactly what they want, make their own choices, and have realistic expectations. Gonzalez discusses the essentials of selecting a contractor, negotiating contracts, and avoiding scams and provides rudimentary information about liens, insurance, bonding, and consumer rights. He also devotes one chapter to the art of writing specifications. The numbers and addresses of consumer protection agencies are listed state by state, as are construction regulatory offices. Good, basic information on this complex subject plus checklists and sample forms make this a useful tool for the beginner. Recommended for public libraries.Judith M. Nixon, Purdue Univ. Lib., West Lafayette, Ind.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.