Last month I noticed some “fogginess” between the panes of my kitchen window.
Having lived in my house for thirty years, I already had the pleasure of replacing windows. Pulling out the original job packet, I checked warranties and warily reached out for service, not quite knowing what to expect, but dreading the worst. Surprisingly, two quick phone calls and a couple of emails later, an appointment was easily finalized to replace the defective custom sash. Finishing the story, the job was quickly and professionally completed this morning with minimal disruption to my household or day.
I consider myself very lucky that the outcome was this simple, but part of this “luck” had to do with the choice and professionalism of the original window contractor. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and whether maliciously or simply because “stuff” happens, not every encounter with a home improvement company has a happy ending.
An unfortunate fact of life is while most providers are reputable, a few “scam” artists are out there looking to pass substandard work along to unsuspecting customers. Additionally, economic circumstances or just bad luck with otherwise good and well-meaning contractors can cause jobs to go wrong.
Homeowners and homeowners’’ associations need to take some basic steps to protect themselves.
Our February 20 meeting (8 AM in meeting Room B of the Naperville Municipal Center) will take a look, from varying perspectives, at hiring contractors. Our panel of presenters will include a lawyer, an insurance agent, and a property manager who will each, from their professional perspective, address things that buyers of services need to consider and be wary of when entering into contracts.
I expect this to be a productive discussion complete with best practices to follow, and hope you can join us! More details are at www.napervillehomeowners.com.
