Historical November 1977 home-rehabilitation column. Original contract and payment recommendations are preserved as period source material, not present-day legal advice.
Rehabbers, like hamburgers, automobiles, and ex-girlfriends, come in a variety of shapes and styles. Most rehabbers are honest, do quality work, and maintain their time-lines. Unfortunately, most is not all. Not all rehabbers are reliable and do quality work. (Come to think of it, I have several ex-girlfriends who had the same problem.) It’s the minority of irresponsible rehabbers whom this article addresses.
As a consumer, whether you’re having an entire house re-done or a kitchen modernized, there are certain practices you should follow which will minimize the likelihood that you will later have a complaint:
1. Get several (at least 3)’ written bids from different rehabbers on the work to be done.
2. Have each rehabber give you three references from people for whom he has done work. Call these folks and find out what they think now that he’s through. Better yet, if possible, go look at his handiwork. (After all, if you won’t take. someone’s word about which restaurant has the best chili, why accept their opinion about a well-done kitchen without checking yourself.)
3. Once you’ve decided on your man (or person, as the case may be), have the work to be done listed in a written contract. Completion date or dates and costs should also be included in this document. You and the rehabber should each have a copy of this contract.
4. Lastly, but certainly not leastly, if you’re paying the rehabber when the contract is signed (or paying him in increments as he proceeds), keep a certain amount of the total price — at least 10% — in escrow. (Specify this in the contract.) This money should be kept by you until the work is fully completed and you are fully satisfied. Amen.
Now that you’ve followed our four basic steps to rehabbing and happiness, there’s an additional step I’d like you to take. Call the Skinker-DeBaliviere office (862-5122) and relate your experience, good or bad, to Cal Stuart. We’re going to try to maintain a list of neighborhood rehabbers and their recommendations. Such a list will protect both the consumer and the rehabber.
Again, most rehabbers do a fine job. Most of them are reliable and honest. But just in case…
Original photograph caption
Original rehabilitation illustration. The Paper, November 1977, page 6. Artist not credited.
Originally published in The Paper, November 1977.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1977_11.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
