 Incompetence, Don't Be A Victim by Bob Bruttell, President People are victimized way too often. It happens two ways. Either a good-hearted soul offers to do some work that is needed, but that person turns out to be incompetent, or worse, a person with nefarious motives targets you, playing on your good will. In either case, the money is gone and the work still has to be done competently. Policies in Place Through good policies, well understood by property administrators, you can protect yourself from bad actors. Things can go wrong. Good policies will minimize problems and protect your property. Clear Specification First, you need a single comprehensive specification of the work so contractors are figuring the same thing. If the project is technical or complicated, seek out a professional. Beware of contractors who provide very sketchy specifications. These can get you in trouble. Detailed specifications are critically important. (See more on this below.) Pre-Qualify Contractors Next you want to pre-qualify the contractors before you invite them to look at your project. Each contractor must have at least 5 years experience doing exactly the kind of work you need. Get references. Adequate Insurance Contractors must be adequately insured. When you turn your building over to a contractor, your building is at risk. Trucks can run into walls, workers can get hurt; more than a few buildings have caught fire due to open torches and welding. These days $1 million is about the minimum amount of liability insurance and, of course, workers' compensation is mandatory. Proven Competence Check references. Anything even mildly negative should raise huge red flags! Was clean-up really well done? Were issues promptly resolved? Was the customer completely satisfied? Someone who mostly does residential work is probably not competent to do commercial work properly. Be careful. A depth of experience is the most important thing. Check the Work When work begins, a knowledgeable person should observe the work as it progresses. Every day they should write down the progress and note any deficiencies. Bring issues to the attention of the contractor. Expect the issues to be cleared up quickly. Finally: Payment. Pay as little up front as possible. If the project is large, negotiate progress payments. And make sure a significant amount of money is held back until the project's completion. | 
