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Officers
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President
- Don Ferguson
Vice Pres - George Fish
Secretary - Jack Harrell
Treasurer -
John Kenney
For
a complete list of all Board Members and Directors, click
here.
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contractors, manufacturers, members, insurance, safety, professional,
roofing, sub, association, education, information, international, national,
asphault, shingles, tile, clay, Members, construction, industry, roofing,
slope, low, commercial, residential, global, technical, water, proofing,
manufacturer, architects, engieers, city, state, regional, affiliates
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Points To Consider
When Choosing A Contractor
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1. Know your contractor. A
frequent problem is "fly-by-night" contractors who take
deposits before starting work or final payments before finishing. Check
with local, state, and national contractor associations to see if they
have memberships. Members of the WCRCA have to prove they have been in
business for at least one year and are in good standing with local, state
and national regulatory commissions.
2. Beware of repair businesses or individuals or individuals who
solicit door to door, arrive in unmarked vehicles, have a post office box
or temporary address, claim they are from another county or state and are
in the area solely to help hurricane victims, or offer to work for you
only if you secure the necessary permits.
3. Check on the contractor's address and license by calling the
Florida Department of Professional Regulation
at 1-800-342-7940, or the
Hillsborough County Building and Zoning Department.
4. To find out if complaints have been filed against a contractor,
call the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA
(1-800-435-7352), the
Florida Department of Professional Regulation
at 1-800-342-7940, or the Hillsborough County Building and Zoning Department.
5. Check with local suppliers. An established contractor with a
reputation for using quality materials and paying bills on time is more
likely to do quality work.
6. Ask for and check references of previous customers.
7. Avoid a contractor who requires advance payment. Arrange to pay
after work is completed, or in regular payments.
8. Obtain a notarized waiver of lien to ensure you do not pay
twice for the work or supplies.
9. Get at least three estimates. Be certain the estimates are
itemized and for the same work. Variations in the proposals should be
noted.
10. If you are processing a loan for the repairs, comparatively
shop for the best terms and rate of interest. If money is to be obtained
from insurance payments, be certain when those funds will be available.
11. Do not sign the work completion certificate until all work is
completed to your satisfaction.
12. Avoid paying cash.
13. Have a written contract for your repairs and understand it
before you sign. A contract should include, at a minimum, the following:
» It should be specific about the work to be done and the exact type of
materials used.
» "Change orders" may be more expensive than you anticipate. If
a change is made during the project, the contract should be amended
showing the change, the cost of the change, and be initialed by both
parties.
» The contract should be specific concerning the terms of payment. If the
project is large enough, the payment may be made in "draws."
That is, a typical payment of 25 percent of the contract amount is made
after 25 percent or more of the work has been completed, and so on. At
the final payment, a 10-percent retainer is sometimes held until a
thorough final inspection has been made.
» Any warranties or guarantees of workmanship and materials should be
explicitly stated in the contract. Be sure of the duration and what is
covered.
» The contract should show a beginning date and a final completion date.
If a penalty assessment is stated for failing to meet the completion
date, the amount of the penalty should be stated and how it is to be
assessed.
» The contract should specify that the contractor is to obtain all
permits or variances, carries full insurance on all employees and
"subs," releases you from all liens, and provides for a proper
cleanup. Make certain you obtain a "release of lien." To obtain
a pamphlet summarizing Florida's Construction Lien Law, call the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA
(1-800-435-7352) or 1-904-488-2221 (out of state).
» If the contract is on a "cost plus" or hourly basis, get a
written estimate and, if possible, a "ceiling."
14. Some home improvement or repair contracts may be canceled
without penalty or obligation by midnight of the third business day after
signing. They are:
» Those signed at a place other than the seller's normal place of
business, unless you requested the specific product or service.
» All door-to-door agreements, except for emergency home repairs. » Those
paid on an installment basis. If you have problems with a contractor, try
resolving your disputes first with the company that sold you the service.
If you are not satisfied, try contacting the Hillsborough County Consumer
Protection Section at 272-6750.
Above information was taken from the Hillsborough
County Website @ www.hillsboroughcounty.org. Any changes are
made in bold.
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