I’m a woman living alone. How should I deal with contractors?

Q: I'm a woman living alone. How should I deal with contractors? Co-workers tell me to pretend I have a husband before signing any deal, but that doesn't seem right to me. How can I expect contractors to be honest in their work when I'm not honest with them?

A: I'm with you on this. Honesty must be the policy -- both for the contractor you hire and for yourself. If the only thing protecting you from being ripped off is the vague mention of some 'husband' who never shows up, then you're on very shaky ground to begin with. There’s a better way.

You’re right to be leary of bad contractors who take pleasure in cheating you. Not all are like this, but to find a good one, you need to do some homework. Start by asking friends about contractors they were pleased with or consider Verified by eRenovate contractors screened for proper licensing and insurance by www.eRenovate.com. Assemble a list of names, ask for references from previous clients, then check them out. When you've settled on a list of good tradespeople, ask for binding, written estimates, then make your final choice. You also need to settle on a payment schedule that allows you to withhold at least 50% of the project fee until the job has been completed and you're pleased.

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