Five Things to Check Before You Write the Check

You've checked your referrals, gotten at least three different quotes for the job, agreed to a price with the specifics of exactly what is going to be done in writing. They've come in and done the job. Now, these are the things that you do before you hand over the money. 

1. Look High and Low

Check the work from all angles you don't normally see when you are walking through. Whether it's a paint job, installation of cabinets or new deck, if one day you're bending down sweeping something up and you notice something that's "off" or not finished, it may be difficult to get the person who has  done the work to come back.

2. Work It

If it opens and closes, open and close it. Later, after you've paid up if you find something that sticks, jams, drags instead of glides it may be too late.

3. Use It

If it's a toilet that's been repaired, flush it, if it's an appliance run it for a cycle. If it's a cooktop turn on all the burners on and off.

I once had a client that had a new professional grade extractor installed in their kitchen. The installer turned it on to show it worked, and it did, he left. Later, when the lady turned off the extractor, one off the grills came crashing down onto the cooktop, denting it. Reading over the manual; it became apparent that there was a brace that was installed in back of instead of in front of the grills, an easy fix, but silly mistake by the installer.

4. Promises, Promises

Have they done everything they said they would? Once during a remodeling project I was doing,  a company was supposed to remove all the old insulation in an attic that had been  infested with rats and disinfect the area, preparing it for the new insulation. When they were done, I said, "great, I'll have a look". The technician who had carried out the work looked a little shocked, which set off alarm bells in my head. When I got up into the attic and looked around with my flashlight and saw that only 70% of the insulation was removed. His excuse was that he disinfected what was still there it and it was "fine". My argument was that I could still see rat feces, it was old insulation and my quote (in writing) was for the removal of the insulation. All of it. He then complied, taking out the insulation that was left and disinfecting the area it had been in .

5. Finishing the Job. 

Are all the edges, seals, caulking and trim sound, even, clean and tight? If it's something like a repair to a leaky roof; get a hose out and try it out. You really don't want to find out something is wrong during the next thunderstorm.