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CLIENT REFERENCES: We will gladly provide you with the names of several recent clients upon your request. We strongly recommend that anyone contemplating the use of our services contact these references as well as those of our competition. You should make sure that the references given you by anyone are recent and/or that the work is similar to the project that you have in mind. We can't emphasize enough the importance of contacting these people. At the very least you should ask them:
(1) "Were you satisfied with the quality of the work performed by the Builder? ...and his Subcontractors?"
(2) "Did your project complete on the time schedule and for the price agreed upon in your contract?"
(3) "Do you feel the price you paid was fair for the quality of work provided?"
(4) "Was the Builder responsive to your requests? ...Was he (or she) readily available? ...Did he (or she) keep you informed?"
(5) "Did the Builder, his employees, and his subcontractors leave you with the impression that they had your best interests in mind? ...If a remodeling job, did they go out of their way to minimize the inconvenience to you?"
(6) "Did you and the Builder part on good terms? ...Were you completely happy with the experience as a whole? ...Do you consider the Builder your friend?"
(7) And, perhaps the most important question of all, "Would you use this Builder again in the future?"TRADE REFERENCES: We have many Trade References available upon request (from our Suppliers, Subcontractors, Architects, Designers, Bankers, Mortgage Brokers, Real Estate Brokers and Agents, Insurance Brokers and Agents, etc.)
SUBCONTRACTORS: Our own employees are generally carpenters and carpenter's helpers. We are very proud of the subcontractors that we use for some of the trades. They were all chosen for their quality of workmanship, their professional attitude, their attention to detail, and their cooperative nature. Some have worked with us since the beginning...others have been with us for many years. They all know our High Standards and what we expect of them and they all are equal to the challenge! A Subcontractor List for your project is available on request.
LICENSES AND BONDING: We are fully licensed and a Homeowner should never deal with any Builder or Contractor who is not. Generally any Home Builder will have to be licensed in order to satisfy his lender, but this is not the case with everyone who holds themselves out to be a Home Improvement Contractor. In any event, a Homeowner should always require a copy of a valid, current license in the name of the Builder or Contractor that they are considering. If there is any hesitation here, or if someone tries to tell you that a license is not required or is unnecessary or that they can do your work on someone else's license, run (don't walk) away from them! In addition, there is a big difference between a Virginia State Contractor's license and a local jurisdiction's "revenue"-type Contractor's License (the former requiring the passing of a rigorous competency test, a demanding financial qualification, and a stringent background check and the latter requiring only the payment of a fee). Insist on a copy of the State License. Our licensing includes:
- Virginia State "Class A" Contractors License #2701-021653
- All necessary local (revenue-type) licenses in the various Virginia jurisdictions in which we work
- Because of the very strict and demanding financial and professional requirements for obtaining a "Class A" License, "Class A" licensees are not required to be bonded in Virginia. We do maintain an ongoing Road Cut Permit Bond required by the Virginia Department of Transportation in order to perform road and other improvements within the state right-of-way in connection with our projects.INSURANCE: A current Certificate of Insurance from our insurance carrier will be provided to you upon request. Of course, we carry all necessary coverages, whether required by law or not, including Workmen's Compensation, Builders' Risk, Property Damage, General Liability, Commercial Auto, and Excess Liability. Generally, any Home Builder will have to carry and keep current at least a minimum level of insurance in order to satisfy his lender. This is not so of Home Improvement Contractors. Before deciding on a Builder or Contractor, and certainly before signing a contract or allowing any work to commence, a Homeowner should always request a copy of a valid Certificate of Insurance, which should be issued by the insurance carrier directly to the Homeowner with the Homeowner's name and address upon it. This is something that any insurance carrier will do for a properly insured contractor at no cost and with no questions asked. If your Builder or Contractor balks at this request, it should be cause for deep concern. If your contractor is not properly insured and someone is injured (even that contractor himself) or property is damaged (yours or someone else's) as a result of your project, you could be held liable for all damages!
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