14 - Friday, Jane 30,1989 Do Do research before choosing © a contractor , CHOOSING A contractor is almost as big a decision as deciding to renovate your home. Horror stories abound — stories of bungled or half-finished jobs or “unexpected cost overruns. ‘Unfor- tunately, we don’t hear often enough about the many contrac- -tors in the marketplace who do an exceptional job, on time and on Dudget. They are there, but you have to do your homework to find them. : “The best way to choose your ". gontractor is by referral,’” said Jim Meszaros, manager for a national siding and window manufacturer. “Ask your friends and neighbors who they used for their home renovations, This way you can see the quality of work the contractor does and find out how much they charged.”* If none of your friends or family has worked with a contractor, a manufacturer of renovation pro- ducts or a local building supply dealer can provide you with a referral. They have the advantage of knowing which contractors per- form quality work and which pay their supply bills ontime. —- ' “After you’ve compiled a list of a few contractors, you should ask them for a reference sheet of past customers,’” said Meszaros. ‘‘Call some of the people on the list and ask them about their experience with the contractor. And ask them if you can come by and see the type of work the contractor did. You'd be surprised at how open : . people will be to’ show ‘you “the : renovation work they had done.”’ When checking on past jobs,. you will also be able to see if the contractor has experience and ex- pertise doing the type of job you require. Like doctors, contractors tend to specialize in certain types . of renovation. a@ new roof requires differnt skills and cepabilities than installing aluminum or vinyl siding. A good indication of a con- tractor’s experience is his length of time in business. Although there are a lot of new contractors who do en excellent job, the newer the contractor, the greater the risk. Established con- tractors have had enough time to find experienced employees and are careful not to take on more jobs than they can handle. Another important factor to consider is the materials that the contractor uses. Make sure that your contractor only uses products from a reputable manufacturer . that provides proper ‘support and warranties. “A big mistake people make,”’ said Meszaros, ‘‘is choosing pro- ducts from brochures. Always get hold of a sample to make sure you © know exactly what your. product will look like. If the contractor doesn’t have a , ‘proper showroom in which to display the materials he uses, go down to the manufacturer’s showroom with him. This way you can be sure of the colors, styles and materials you are choosing. Once you are comfortable with a short-list of contractors and have chosen the actual products you will be using, your final decision will probably come down to rzice. Ask for quotes from at least three con- tractors, listing in detail everything you want done. Specify the type of materials you. want used. and note the colors, brand names and model numbers. . Remember‘ ‘to give the same *.. specifications to -each contractor. « TF each: contractor has different - See Be ‘Page 16 ea te te awe png Shore News SUNBEAM BARBEQUE $199 Hurry while Evel : thing a in Both Stores. Hundreds of Styles | Drastically Reduced _ Ready for Immediate Delivery at Prices of | ‘ UP TO 435-5566 4240 Manor Street Burnaby, B.C. « - . (Half a block west of - Sheraton Villa Hotel) 1394 ‘Main Stre JN Ve CANADIAN HA. Closer SHOPS THOMASVILLE GALLERY mirre. closet doors * wire storage systems 7 © wall bed * Do-it-yourself or installed _ ® Free in-home estimates " 1093 Marine Dr, NV. 986-4263 | JULY FURNITURE | CLEARANCE Before you go on vacation, stop and see the terrific price reductions we're offering throughout the store through July’ Now Two Big Locations CANADA'S LARGEST THOMASVILLE GALLERY THOMASVILLE GALLERY