UtahWordofMouth.com This story was very informative. I have created a website that promotes trusted, reliable, licensed and insured service providers. We are asking all Utahn's to contact us on our site and inform us of service providers they have used and trust. Log onto UtahWordofMouth.com. Great companies deserve to be talked about! UtahWordofMouth.com serves to strenghten consumer confidence when selecting a service provider. Let's get the word out!

Amen @Kay Dunn - Back to fundamental marketing with modern availability. Amen

@Kay Dunn - How do I know your website is legit?

I'd guess the site will be legit, but isn't quite there yet. @superdeII - I wanted to add a review, but there isn't a way to add a company to review! I think Kay was trying to pimp UWOM just a little early. If there was a 'contact us' type page on the site I'd give some feedback, but it look like it hasn't been made. Good luck with the site.

Contact Us link @TwothAmendment - Thanks for your feedback. The "Contact Us" link is up and ready. The link is located at the top of the main page. Click on that link and you can refer a service provider.

Funny you should ask that, superdell, as it was @superdeII - you and your computer store that continually refused to abide by the basic rules of the Better Business Bureau, a similar organization.

Fortunately, you were found out and your business was halted.

I also refuse the rules of the BBB @Big Love - Mainly, the rule that says that my company must pay them in order to have a positive report... The BBB is an ADVERTISING AGENCY. Nothing more or less.

FixYourHomeUp.com @flat4 - We are licensed and insured. We provide services ranging from Basements, Bathroom and Kitchen Remodels, Walkouts, Decks and much more. It is always a good idea to check if your potential contractor is licensed and insured this will get rid of 90% of the bad ones. Progress payments are always a good idea also.
Check out our website.

FixYourHomeUp.com

Lord Ventures Inc.

Thanks Kay @Kay Dunn - I think that is the best way to find someone who is reliable.

Thanks Gemstone @gemstone - Thanks for your comment.

DOPL @Kay Dunn - The home owner contractor program should be overhauled and DOPL should require that all tradesman be licensed! DOPL requires Electricians and plumbers to be licensed as well as building inspectors, so why not carpenters?

Home owners can get a permit exemption (licensed contractor not required)and hire unlicensed people to work for them; if they do that then I guess they get what they deserve!

@Dogface - Electricians and plumbers have "special training" due to the nature of what they do and what they work with (electricty and water are public comodities and if they do thier job wrong it could effect a lot of people)however anyone can do it. just like any one can do carpentry. but to do any of those trades (be a professional tradesman) they ALL are suspose to be licenesed or work for one who is.

Thanks @Mr. d - Thanks for making my point...not everyone can be a carpenter just like not everyone can be a plumber!

Have seen some of the crap work that has been done on private and public buildings the last few years? I see concrete at the Gateway, Library Square, The District; it looks like they finished it with a shovel! The trades have been flushed down the toilet with the illegals overwhelming the industry and driving wages down next to nothing; no wonder people are not finding good people, they have all left the trades becuse they do not speak Spanish and refuse to work for peanuts!

Mr. d, @Mr. d - I always sort of wondered why my guy would bring a plumber in instead of do it himself. That makes sense He has all the other skills including electrical but has a plumbing guy who is really good which is who he used for my plumbing and any water valve hook ups when he refinished my house.

Who's to blame.... @Dogface - Blame the legislature…
Utah leaders promote the “Right to Work”. Which means anyone with a hammer, screwdriver and a magnetic sign to stick on their pickup truck can open a contracting business.
Utah’s licensing laws are abysmal at best. People with a couple years or less experience, can obtain a contractors license by taking a very simple test. They then are free to open their own business, do shoddy work and begin hosing customers. I know guys who have no place of business....they operate out of their trucks!!!!
If they get in trouble and are sued by a disgruntled customer......they can easily declare bankruptcy and two weeks later their back in business operating under a new name.

Don’t misunderstand me....there are some very good contractors out there who have worked for years to get where they are....but Utah’s leaders do a disservice to the people of the state by making it way too easy to license, open a business and then skip town when things go bad.

How many @Ironmomo - states are harder to become licenced in?
About 8 out of 40, and 75% of those 8 have the same requirements.
So, Utah is way ahead of places like NY.

Ironmomo -- Why must we always blame others for our own naiveté and lack of basic common sense? @Ironmomo - Simply because a person walks up to you and claims to be a licensed contractor, does not mean you should automatically trust them. And simply because they have a license to do business, does not mean they are reputable.

Most people who get scammed and defrauded are people who are either to lazy to check up on the people who are scamming them, or who believe everything they're told without question.

Blame the legislature? Blame the city or the county? Blame whoever you want! If you got scammed because you never followed any research on the person knocking on your door or sending you email, if you never took multiple bids or questioned why one bid was so much lower/higher than another, if you never contacted the city, county, state or the BBB, and you never sought references or followed up on those references, then you really have no one else to blame but yourself.

The STATE is NOT YOUR BABYSITTER!! We're all adults and we are all RESPONSIBLE for ourselves. The resources that can help you weed out the crooks and schysters are out there, but WE are responsible for making sure we do the research. And there is no state law, nor city or county ordinance, no sex offender registry or court record will EVER suffice to replace plain old common sense!

Get a contractor @Dogface - that pays into the Lein Recovery Fund. It is on their license. DEMAND TO SEE IT. The Lein Recovery Fund is paid for by GOOD Contractors paying for BAD Contractors. We are required to maintain a certain amount of money in the fund to cover things like sub's not getting paid or material not being paid for or by jobs not being completed. Without being paid, subs or suppliers can place a lein on your property. That is precisely why this fund was set up.
Do your homework, check references, check DOPL,check Dept of Commerce and check some of their work. Remember, cheap aint always the best. You get what you pay for. LIFETIME WARRANTIES DONT EXIST. Depends on the lifetime of the company.

@Dogface - currently you can check to see if a company is registered on dopl.gov and see if they are licensed. the problem is, most people in utah just want a really good deal and so they go with the cheap guy! you get what you pay for! do a lil research on the person, if it sounds too good to be true, then most of the time it is. and let's report the people that are trying to work without a license! it's hurting small companies as myself with trying to get work!

Dogface @Dogface - A carpenter contractor does need to be licensed. He as the business owner is responsible for the men that he hires. The same holds true for other trades, tile, stucco, roofing etc.

Not true! @yoda - A carpenter can go to work for Smiths Grocery and not need a license, but if he were an electrician he would need a license from DOPL that he is an electrician, either an apprentice, journeyman or a master electrician.

Question for Kay: @Kay Dunn - Is UtahWordOfMouth.com an advertising tool, or a real consumer referral service? Do the companies that you refer pay fees, or dues, or otherwise compensate you for the referals? Does UtahWordOfMouth generate a profit from these referrals?
Many people have the misconception that entities like this are consumer watchdog groups, such as the Better Business Bureau. The BBB is not a government agency and has no ethical ties except for those companies who pay their fees annually, essentially to "ADVERTISE" with the BBB. If you check the BBB for my company's record, they will tell you that my company has no record with them. Almost implies that my company is another fly-by-night operation, does'nt it? And yet, they will give a glowing report on some of the shadiest companies in my business. I find this type of "advertising extortion" to be absolutely inscrupulous.
Hire a LICENSED CONRACTOR with LRF... Ask to see a copy of the license, as well as a copy of current liability insurance. Word-Of Mouth advertising referral from someone you trust is the best... But I question the motives of a this website listed above. WHO PAYS FOR IT?

Grant Krinke
INTEGRITY HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING

RE MOD L CONSTRUCTION @Kay Dunn - People! Not all contractors are bad! and not all customers are victims! I am a small company that does remodeling, i have been in business for two years and i am licensed insured to do more than what i do! I have had my fair share of experiencing deals with customers and other contractors! in my experience i have never been ripped off! why? probably because everything i am going to do i have a detailed contract written up and signed by both parties, to protect you and i! I have also learned that no matter how good of a job you do, there are those customers out there that just don't want to fully co-operate with me! It's probably because they have been ripped off by someone else, so they feel justified in trying to get me to do more than agreed upon. which i stop, sit them down, and go over the contract. Sometimes it's something petty and dumb, and i have to cut my losses. I am so sick of these handyman guys that claim they can do everything! But then come to find out, they don't have half the tools they need, and they were self taught, and their quality shows! I think most people want a good deal, and there are alot of frugal bargain shoppers out there, i am one of them. but i have come to realize you get what you pay for! Never pay for labor and material up front! at the MOST, i would say it is safe to pay for materials, but with a contract, and with you doing some kind of research on the company! don't every make out a check to person! if they are legit they have a company bank account, even then sometimes those people have a company name and are not licensed, so be sure to go to www.dopl.utah.gov and verify a contractors license! you can also verify a business entity on that site too! tells you how long they have been in business and if they are currently ok to operate! the more info you have on someone, the better you are! but don't ask for too much! i would never give out some of my info to customers. SO if you need a good contractor, i am your man! i operate by myself, and have a wide knowledge of different types of trades. I am able to control the quality because i do the work myself, and also i have integrity and take pride in my work! i feel it is very important in order to become a successful company. I have tried to have a professional look with my business as well, and have been told it! I am developing a website that will work as being the middle and between the contractor and customer! and i have the experience to fully understand how construction works! i am not gonna be the company that is just there to make a buck! i hate the existing online sites, they are not personable! and they don't even know or understand how most construction works! i hope i have brought some insight to people that were uneasy about hiring a contractor. if you have any questions or comments you can email me at re_mod_l@hotmail.com

Contractors Just the word "Contractor" in the state of Utah brings the hair up on the backs of most peoples necks, they are two thirds THUGS! And this state seems to allow it. I am a professional "Handyman" and have been for about 13 years, I'm paid to clean up after these Robbers. I will not get a Contractor's Lic. until this state passes laws to stop this. I've had 4 customers this year have there furnaces red tagged by a very high profile plumbing and heating company in Salt Lake ownly to have the HVAC company I suggest come out and give the furnace a clean bill of health. I can't help but wonder how many good furnaces go to scrap, how many 80 year old ladys are paying $1,800.00 for a water heater replacement. This summer I replaced a belt on a Swamp cooler for a very old lady on a fixed income, when I was writing her a bill for the repair she showed me a estimate of replacement for $1,700.00, the unit was about 4 years old (as good as new) the last man told her it could not be repaired and did not replace the belt, The temperature was about 100 degrees that week. Yet nothing is done up on capital hill and we seem to re-elect the same Mr. Mac suits year after year.

@southstar - i got a nice 50 gal water heater for 380$ and havethe gas ppl or handyman put it in. then look at the look on his face when he pulls up and tells u its not the rite one. it happened to melast spring. he handed me a bill for the 1,100.00 water heater and i didnt even have him put his in. i never paid itand never heard from him again. he had 4 mexicans with him. i didnt let them in. so the bill was 75$ in labor i paid that but not for the other heater
dont let them talk u into something you dont need. buy your heater or furnace.

And. @moe joe - if they are on the up and up your guy will also give you all the receipts for all the purchases he made for materials even though they are contractor prices and is tapped onto his account which he has a record of from his vendor so "speaking for my guy" he has no need for the paper receipt but some of my guys customers write that stuff off so he gives all receipts for purchased and ordered material to all his customers when he finishes and is paid in full. Even you do not ask for them he sticks them all in a envelope and gives them to his customers anyway. Not sure where that policy came from but that is how good he is.

I want the truth @I Want The Truth behind Utah - Sounds like you have a good honest person doing the work. I had a bedroom and bath painted and was charged $120. for just the paint. There were just two small walls in the bathroom, the rest has tile.

So @gemstone - The painter makes a litle bit of money on the paint? He has to buy brushes, rollers, tape, drop clothes, overalls, pay his bills, save a little for when he is too old to paint...big deal that he makes a few bucks on the paint!

I went to the ear doctor laast month and he spent 5 minutes with me and charged my insurance over $634 for a five minute visit....where is the rage there?

Huh? @Dogface - Speak up, Dogface, I don't hear so well...

Big Love @Big Love - You don't look so well either! Just fooling!

That is unfortunate to hear gemstone, @gemstone - like i say i have a good guy and have seen his work which is how i learned about him.

My guy just did some work on my house and the work he did that required any paint (and there was some which required paint in just a few areas to patch up)

What my guy did was leave me the extra paint he bought for the job so i have a little of that color if i ever needed it later. Basicly the way my guy does business is just the same as pants that come with a suit jacket for a suit "it is meant to go with that house not some one elses house". Any un-used supplies he did not use he left with me. He is so busy he will never have time in a life time to think about printing flyers not to mention most his work is referral work like how i found out about him so how people get suckered into those flyer adds amazes me.

@I Want The Truth behind Utah - Not all purches will have a recipt to show for. in a lot of cases the contractor orders thier suppies and does the job and needs to be paid before the contractor recives there invoice for the supplies. the main reason for the guy to give you recipts is if the manufacture or supplier warrenties the supplies and not the contractor. as for customers writing it of, when the contractor gives him his invoice for work and supplies that is the one you should use not the cost to the contracter.

The best thing is to research cost of supplies and get multible bids for the work you need before you decide who to go with.

I have credit @Mr. d - I never need to be paind up front for paint. I have a charge account from three major Paint stores.
Don't pay up front. If the contractor needs money for a paint job upfront, he is already broke.

reply to I have Credit! @herm98 - When I had a painting company. I always gave the customer the choice of buying there own paint or I would recomend a paint store where I had accounts and they would get a discount. I would never purchase there paint due to customers not wanting to pay, learned by working with other painting contractors. I found its cheaper to eat the labor but not the supplys. Like a free job. I never accepted any money up front only when the job was complete and approved. I also got a good rep and my referals grew so did my company. I have noticed these days when a contractor show up for bids these days. There copilots always come back wanting to do the job for cheaper without there boss. Sounds funny but its true. I then give both a no to the Job.

Follow Up @Mr. d - When you give check to the contractor for materials such as concrete make the check payable to both the contractor and the supplier. Either the contractor will pay his bill or be thrown in jail for forgery!

Mr. d, you are right, @Mr. d - I have his invoice at the time of work finished plus receipts. I never really thought of it that much until you made the point. He knows what he will need when he has given others and i estimates. The way he works is cost of materials upfront and the rest when finished. Maybe cost of materials upfront is why he provides paper receipts for everything when finished. Al i know 100% for sure is he gets heaps of referral work and does good work.

Anything he builds or installs that has a warranty he went over it with me to make sure i knew i had the warranty and what the warranty is.

Not only does this state allow contractor THUGS... @southstar - Utah encourages it by protecting these JERKS with more rights than the homeowner.

I had my basement almost finished by one such THUG. A young punk who lied, cheated, stole, threatened and was verbally abusive to both myself and my wife.

Not to mention the work was mediocre at best. He threw a fit and walked off the job the first time I said anything about not liking something.

He ended up with all the money, and then some. Didn't finish the job and of course wouldn't back up any warranties.

I'm now fixing doors that fell off because they were ordered the wrong size.

If I withheld any money he would have put liens on my house anyway. This wonderful state would have made it so difficult for me to dispute anything.

I wish I could give his name here but I'm sure if he saw it I would be sued for slander. Again he has all the rights.

Thanks Utah...again.

@whatha - sorry for the problems thta you have had, however next time do not pay the person "all the money, and then some" until the job is done. a contractor may need to be paid as they go, however pay only for the work as it is completed, an execption may be a deposit/paying for the supplies for the job. so do not place all the blame on the state.

@whatha - actually the lien laws have changed dramatically! so it's not so easy for him to lien your house! i am a contractor and we are now required to do continuing education classes and the inform us on updated things and had a class on the lien laws. NEVER PAY THE FULL AMOUNT UP FRONT! that gives the negotiating power to them fully!

Southstar @southstar - I would say that without a Contractors License you are not a professional ANYTHING. Apparently you are not commited enough to your work that you are willing to do it LEGALLY. And your customers should know that when they hire and UNLICENSED Contractor they have NO LEGAL RECOURSE if something goes wrong. YOU, sir, are part of the problem with our system of licensure. You should be ashamed to post here.

WOW, over twenty estimates via e-mail on a bathroom remodel job sounds shady to me. Sheesh i have a contractor doing work on my house as i speak he does awesome work and is very picky which is good. Point being never in a million years would he quote a price without first looking at what he was working with. What you want done can not always be done "properly" according to my guy so how anyone can quote a price without first looking at the lay out hmm sounds shady to me.

Mo offense Kay Dunn but the good guys like my guy would never associate their name to a web site just made July 2008 like yours they have a reputation to maintain. Sheesh my guy is so busy even with the real estate market as it is he still stays busy and booked year round.

i found out about my guy when a friend had some work done it looks good really good they explained everything he did from start to finish.

I Want The Truth behind Utah @I Want The Truth behind Utah - Care to share who is doing the work for you? I have two bathrooms I would like re-done but I am having a hard time finding someone to do the work right.

Lorraine, @Lorraine W. - What is your e-mail ill send you his contact info.

ask them for proof of a background check. there licence,id drivers license number,state business license. w a phone number for contacts. and the number for the st licence bureau. if u start getting nosy they will walk away.
if they do get there licenses number id ask for it anyway.

moe joe are you a crook too? @moe joe - I am sure your not, however the questions you say to ask would be a red flag to most people for identity fruad. most people (good & bad) would walk away. "getting nosy" will not always prove anything, it is a matter of people doing thier research on the contractors to see what there track record shows for being a good contractor.

I know @Mr. d - I would walk away!

I'll give you all my information that the state provides me with.
Contractors licence #, a certificate of Insurance, Certificate of Workmans Comp, My home address, My cell # which I will call you on so you can store it in yours. (we'll be talking alot in the next few weeks, or maybe even months.)

The rest is up to you to find out if you are so inclined.

Adds ALOTOF MEANING TO the old saying, PUBLIC BEWARE, i am a senior citizen and i have become my own handy man, it is hard for me but i keep trying and i am getting better at it and it is sort of fun really and my time is ALOT CHEAPER, plus when i go the HOME DEPOT i dont have to pay anyone for that time, it is free when i do it. This is a good report and common sense, plus i have found usually the bigger companies who have been around awhile generally have a better rep, but it still better to check out several of those even.

Mr. MyOpinon4U @MyOpinion4U - I have at times in the past disagreed very strongly with your opinions... this one makes perfect sense to me. BUYER BEWARE is absolutely correct. The only exception that I would take... there are several of the big companies in my business that are and have been developing a VERY BAD reputation. Because of their huge advertising budgets, however, they are household names around here. I cannot cite the names for the certainty of lawsuit... but please, folks... ask your neighbors, friends, church members, co-workers before you decide to buy.

Grant Krinke
INTEGRITY Heating and Air Conditioning

It is so unfortunate that this happens The fact of the matter is that this happens in all professions. We have all been taken in one way or another by someone different. Companies that want to stay in business will not do this. I recently started a Home Building Company and its a company that I am proud of because we pride ourselves on integrity and hard work. Our goal is to do a good job at a fair price and that's because we want to be around in twenty years. I believe that it is the duty of the public to seek out contractors that are honest. Don't be afraid to ask questions and even poke and pry. A good contractor will have nothing to hide and will be proud to tell you about other pleased customers or show you other jobs that they have done.

Warning, Danger Handymen cannot legally touch any electric, plumbing or HVAC items. It is illegal and they are working outside of their scope of licence.

Problem is most people rush. They talk to a cabinet maker, counter top guy, flooring. Then they contact a contractor and are in a big hurry because the cabinets are coming! So they hire some schmoe.
They try to do projects without planning, permits or following the codes, and zoning rules. They try to cheap out, but still expect the best.

Reciepts? You have no right to know what the contractor paid for something, it is irrelivent. You agree on a price for the job, and when it's done you pay the price.

In my 20 years of contracting in UT I have never seen a news story about the home owner who didn't pay in full, but it happens all the time.

@Opinions for free - Last I knew there was a cost/price limit a handyman can do on each job and they are NOT suspose to do new contrction, only remodels. And anyone can be a handyman, they just need a city business license which means they tell the city what they plan to do as a business and pay a minimal fee and they have it.

I too do not recall seeing news story about the homeowners who didn't pay but I know it happens also.

There is @Mr. d - a cost limit. There is a raised cost limit if the handyman registers with the state DOPL and provides proof of insurance.

It is all available on their website. The very 1st stop someone should make. It also provides information on the state construction registry. That is where all contractors or municipalities must post building permits, notices of commencement, notices of completion, sub contractors must also register on each job they do for a general contractor, if they don't register properly for each job, they lose their lein rights.

Bottom line-
Don't be rushed
Communicate with your contractor- if your not comfortable with there communication, find someone else.
Get an accurate description of the work the contractor has agreeded to complete and the cost for the work.
SIGN A WRITTEN CONTRACT that spells everything out.
Make sure there are permits.
Agree in the contract as to how payment should be handled- I present invoices on Friday and expect payment in full for all materials delivered and all work completed up to that point. Nothing more than what I have earned.
Let them know, you expect then to begin on time and be there every day, all day.

@Opinions for free - you are actually wrong about them not being able to touch any electric plumbing or hvac! they cannot work under a permit, a job with materials and labor more than $999.00 and they can work on elecetrical plumbing and hvac, they cannot install any new lines or anythign new, but if they wanna swap out an electrical outlet, they can, if they wanna swap out a disposal, they can. they have limitations like anyone else, maybe you should check the law and limitations before claiming an argument?

care to place @James H. - a wager on that? I'll bet you what ever you want.
A word to the wise, I completed my 4th 3 hour continuing education class last week, (2 are required) it was on HANDYMAN regulations and was taught by the director of DOPL.
I used to hire "handymen" to do small electrical and plumbing for me, can't anymore, illegal for them to touch.

They can do carpentry, roofing, tile, siding, windows, paint, concrete, lots of things.
No Electrical, Plumbing or HVAC.

get what you pay for What is the saying out there? . . . the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten . . .

The problem I see is that people are so obsessed with saving a buck that everything else (i.e. experience, education, references, quality of product and services) become secondary because they found someone that is willing to do a specific job for 20% lower than other companies. In my opinion, the responsibility lies on the homeowners themselves.

In the end, I have little sympathy for these homeowners that got screwed because I guarantee that in all the cases, they choose the "low bid" to save a buck. What is amazing to me is that people still just don't get it - you get what you pay for.

There is a reason why reputable companies that have been around for years and years rarely come in as a low bid with residential projects.

@Tyler C. - You are right about people saving a buck though not all low bids are bad people, they may have less overhead do your research on people/companies try and find out what they are cheap before choosing a contractor.

I knew a guy that wanted a new baluser railing in his house. It was not very big and did not want to spend more the $500 for material and labor. Material alone was in the $400 range and he still expected to find some one to install it for dirt cheap with out buy less expensive parts (he had to have the fancy materail rather then tridational affordable parts.)

@Mr. d - What is sad is that I bet that guy was able to find someone that would be willing to do it for that cheap - with no insurance, Workers comp, etc, not to mention experience, knowledge or warrantee and follow up work issues. Again, to my point with this guy, his number one concern was doing it cheap. He, like most people, can't put two and two together that they are probably going to get what he paid for.

WOW, I'm afraid this gives the honest, licensed, and insured dontractors like me a bad name also. People might be sketchy to hire anyone. Do your homework, ASK FOR REFERENCES!!!!!! If they treat other people good, chances are they will be honest.

oops- @GARTHVADER - I hit a d instead of c. my bad.

We can thank our legislators With present Utah laws none of the bad in the repair and construction industry is liable for their performance. None of these violators ever get prosecuted or even charged with a crime because of our laws. The way Utah laws work is that you can't sue or file charges against the crooked individuals operating a fraudlent business because you can only sue the company. All the state does is fine individuals and leave the consumer hanging with a major loss. Well, as all these contractors and service company's know, if they want to get out of being charged or sued with a crime by homeowners is to close the business and reopen under a new name. Any that are responsible businesses are charging so much for work that it drives consumers to look for cheaper and less costly repair services. If individuals do hire aftermarket services they should write a contract with the repair individual and if they refuse a contract then send them on their way. Don't trust the free estimate and repairs without a written estimate and write a contract with agreed amount and repairs. Cost overruns are the responsibilty of the service provider, not the homeowners. And never pay upfront all the money and require identification of individuals working on repairs. The state should not allow the arbitray liens placed on property either or even the threat of a lien without first contacting homeowners. They should first have the right to defend against the lien and its filer. So we can thank our legislators for the laws that don't exist to protect homeowners from fraud and fraudlent businesses. These people stealing are only subject to working without a license fine.

I agree @Backpage - I am in full agreement with your point that cost overruns are the responsibility of the service provider. If the contractor can't adequately estimate his/her supplies, materials, and labor time then he/she either lacks enough experience or needs a course in estimating. Not all licensed tradesmen are good tradesmen. However, the fines and consequences of being caught working in a regulated trade without a license are minimal.

Most important, always communicate clearly and frequently with your contractor. There is a substantial cost in doing legitimate business and common sense indicates you get what you pay for.

No problem @Realist - as long as every new light location, every switch that you want changed is mentioned, you mention that the RO filter will be reinstalled, you mention that the new stove is 40 amp, new faucet is a 4 hole, closet wants to have waterfall shelving, paint the whole room, not just the efected wall, in 3 tone. Ect. ect. ect.

Cost overruns are mostly the fault of the home owner. Law allows for a 10% cost increase due to sudden materials increases that could not have been predicted, like fuel did this past summer, or when OSB went rom $6 to $20 a sheet due to Katrina.

Plenty of... Unlicensed illegal immigrants out there also who are posing as handymen and contractors.

We got lucky We recently had some work done on a bathroom. In fact it ended up being a complete remodel. We got several bids, and the one we ended up going with was the lowest bid. He would do what we wanted done, while others wouldnt. He wasnt licensed, BUT when he came to give us the bid, he said he didnt require ANY money down at all. He contracted out things that he couldnt do himself. All money was due when the work was completed. I was impressed. This made it so that he got the work done fairly fast, and if we werent satisfied, we wouldnt have to pay him anything. Not many contractors will do that now. I cannot stress enough the importance of getting several bids, investigating who is doing the work with referrals, and not just going with who is the cheapest. You usually get what you pay for.

I recently had a bathroom installed. I called about 8-10 companies to get an idea about how much it would cost. I had 4 contractors come to my home to look. All 4 told me they would come or call with an estimate. Only 1 contractor came back. We paid as we went, never up front. I saw all receipts. Two weeks tops. It was all done! We are so happy with it! He even let us do the parts we could do. We hung the sheet rock, painted, and laid the flooring. He did the rest. Helped us keep the price down and we got it done quickly.

Many of our neighbors had ward members come in and do work on their homes only to end up unsatisfied for one reason or another. Now when someone says they need to get some work done in their home, I recommend my guy.

It really does pay off to ask questions and for references.

You do realise that hiring an unlicenced contractor is a violation of UT law and is prosacutable as a misdimeaner.

When you drew the building permit, you certified that any work not done by yourself, would be done by a licenced contractor. That is another charge of filing a false official document.
If you didn't draw a building permit, your a tax dodger.
You are the problem, you enable these illegals to exist. You cheat the honest, insured, licenced law abiding contractor who is looking out for your intrests.

Handyman In the state of Utah a "HANDYMAN" can do any repair or work UNDER $1,000.00, (Thats labor and materials) he (or she) can replace a water heater, but can not change the location of the water heater. If a Handyman (or Handywomen) fallows the state laws a contractors license is not required. In this state a contractors license means NOTHING, it won't get you a cup of coffee. I have many old customers that call me because I am NOT a contractor. We can thank our state law makers for that, they are to busy making laws prohibiting smoking in bars to make laws that protect the consumer.

Choose a business with a proven track record I own a stereo store (the hi-fi shop) in Roy, we do lots of home audio and theater systems. We have been in business for over 50 years, there is a reason for that. We do what we say & when we say we'll do it. Just look at the business that is trying to get your business. How long have they been in business, do they truly have a business license, how about reputable references? Don't just look at the cheapest bid, that's where I've seen too many people get burned.
thanks,
Trevor Doman

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong Look it up on the DOPL website.

They use to could, not anymore.

Handyman licenced individuals may not do any work that requires a special licence,
I think it's 3 thousand now, and 5 thousand if they are a registered handyman with the state and have insurance.

I had a nightmare of my own! I had a licensed contractor come to my house to do a so called "free estimate" on a paint job. He had to come back to test some paint out to see if it would cover the next day, never telling me there would be a charge. I never signed a contract or agreed that I would go through with the job. Weeks later, I got an outrageous bill charging me 40 dollars for two small trip charges and a threat to take me to small claims court, saying that we entered into a "verbal contract". He also tried to black out "free" on "free estimates" on his bill. We ended up battling each other through the BBB and I did not pay him his hidden fees. My advice is to have everything your contractor says and does in writing before they even do a bid and to check to see if they have Worker's Comp. and a contractor's license. I will never hire a contractor or handyman again.

@green velvet - check about worker's comp? unless they have employees, a company has the right to waive their workers comp if they are an owner of the company. you want to make sure they are licensed and insured. and usually if they are licensed they are insured, because when a company isn't insured it is reported to the state and they drop the license.

well... @James H. - What if they get hurt in your house? Better make sure that you won't be responsible.

beware with concrete work I had paid a guy (Terry) to pour concrete on my house. Paid half to start the job and half when is done. A few month later, concrete company placed a Mechanic lien for the concrete pour in my house which was not paid for. I called the guy to fix the issue, but he will not returned my call. company also told me that I am not the only one, that there are more people in which this guy did work for, that their concrete was not paid for and has a lien.

I just can't believe that concrete company would pour concrete with out getting paid first. this terry guys is as shading as well as company. guess what, they both are protected by our people in office.

Word of warning @not enough - Before finish paying a contractor, get Lien Releases on his material suppliers, subcontractors, etc.

This will save you lots of grief.

Horrible Painter Can you name specific contractors that have ripped people off here???? cuz that would seem more helpful.....


If you can, here's a terrible, dishonest, unprofessional painting company that I would warn anyone NOT to use: Seely Painting, owners: Lynn Seely and Gordon Lyman.

People like that! I totally agree. I have my own Contracting business and the work i do, i guarantee. Some of my bids have been higher than other ones the homeowners have gotten and some have been lower. Not all of us are out to swindle people out of their money or to overbid to make a few more bucks, we bid it like we see it and take in effect the work we have to do. You get what you pay for plain and simple. And if your gonna be cheap about it and hire the mexicans who will do it for a few hundred dollars less then so be it and good luck with that. But it's "handymen" like that who do it for so cheap then do a crappy job, That give us a bad name. They are the reason why peoples hair stands up on the backs of their necks when they hear the word CONTRACTOR!

If a guy named Jason Brown bids to do your remodel...run for the hills! This guy is the most dishonest man I have ever seen in my life. He bid us 180k to do our kitchen & living room & after we paid him the full amount, it turned into a legal nightmare. We complained to DOPL and they were completely useless in helping us.

@mich1 - mich1 Are you really that stupid or just have more money than you know how to throw away??? Did you check referances? Was this guy Licensed and Insured??Why on earth would you pay anyone that kind of money up front or with some type of garantee that the work was done right?? The state is much tuffer on the honest Licensed Contractor trying to do things right than they are with the Unlicensed Hacks from South of the Border!!!It seems like every year there are more hoops to jump through just to keep my licence but I do because I feel its the right thing to do if I want to honestly work my trade. Without a License their is little accountablity if any for a job not done right.

Jerry Bradford From Payson. That was my contractor.

RE MOD L CONSTRUCTION I am a small construction company licensed to build a house from the ground up, but i mainly specialize in remodeling ( it's always around, and houses are always getting older). I work by myself mainly, doing everything in which i am able to control the quality alot more! it irritates me to find out when i have lowered my prices to get work, that someone else beat my bid! And the price they beat it with makes no sense at all to me? how can someone do something for so cheap and make money? well.... they haven't a clue how to bid, so they probably don't know how to do it! Also, sometimes i find some bids beat me, because they use different materials! So people let's remember to compare apple to apple! Never pay the full amount up front! and always, i mean always have a contract written up and at least search dopl.gov to see if they have a legitiment company and license?? If you don't follow these guidelines, i do not feel bad for you! also i am developing a website right now to further benefit the contractors and the customers in utah, construction anxiety free! how nice would that be?

website @James H. - Some one needs to start a better Customer bureau. Contractors or all business can post customers to avoid.
For every contractor horror story there is a homeowner horror story that haunts us contractors.

I find it hard to beleive... That people who would never accept "substandard" workmanship, would not knowingly accept work that does not meet building codes, would not ever THINK of buying appliances that have no UL listing... Think that it is a smart move to hire an unlicensed contractor. These people are knowingly sidestepping systems designed to protect them and insure quality work... As for the idiot CLAIMING to be a contractor while spouting off about his refusal to get licensed... you will never have my business, and you are welcome to any "Customers" that are dumb enough to hire you. These are the customers that I do not want to have. I am certain, from reading many of the abov posts, that stories like this will only continue in the future.

Handyman law The handyman law is 3000.00, but u have to get a license to do this work anyway. U have to have insurance, tax id number, and workers comp if u have emplyees. U need to take business law test. They have two guys in Northern utah to call for unlicensed people doing work. Turn these guys in so other people dont get took. I turn them in every chance i get, if they dont wont to play by the law them let them work at walmart or something.