HAVE I GOT A DEAL FOR YOU!!!!!

Many fine people are offering many fine services, but who are they and where to they come from? How many times have you had someone come to your door and offer to repair something for you for a “nominal fee?” If you are a caring and benevolent person, you may feel sorry for that contractor and give them a job. However, you MAY suffer for your kindness.

Point in fact: Last year was hard on driveways. After several years of drought, we had copious rains. This, along with Oklahoma’s ever-changing temperatures and wide ranges of cold and hot weather, caused many challenges for the home owner. There were several “contractors” going house-to-house proclaiming they were “in the area, resurfacing drives and had extra tar, gravel, concrete or whatever, and would repair that home’s drives for a fraction of what is usually spent on such repairs.”

Those who took these contractors up on their offers, usually wound up paying twice what they were initially quoted, and the work was sub par.

Another problem Oklahoma home owners have had to face has been foundation or settling repairs due to the inclement weather. This can run into thousands of dollars! Always do your homework on the foundation companies. Ask Realtors who they use. Ask other home owners who they have used and how happy they are with the final product. Make sure of your warranties. Always read the fine print. If the company you choose to do the work is too busy to fit you in for quite some time, you might consider another company, only because that company may tell you that your work is not necessary or that you should just repair the esthetics instead of repairing the prevailing problem. This, unfortunately, can lead to much worse problems down the road. Always get more than one estimate and opinion. These tend to vary greatly. Sometimes the lowest estimate IS the best, but not always.

In all areas of repair it will serve you well to do the research into a contractor’s reputation. Go with the guys who others know or recommend. It’s much less dangerous. You wouldn’t want just any stranger in your home. The condition of your home is not the only thing you have to consider. Consider who is looking at your valuables. Be careful who you let into your home for your safety and well being.