Who and What is this Contractor? 

The above questions are asked  because it is so common among self-empowered private home decision makers like you to KNOW. And it is perhaps as affirmative that you are in one way or another so inquisitive because you embrace this invaluable idiom :

'Everything you see isn't what it seems to be.'

And that is equally applicable to every contractor who appears to be the right fit for your home project. You might want to believe that person is, but experience kicks in to question whether this tradesperson is really who or what he or she claims to be or something else? We hope the shortcuts offered in these four exclusive exercises will be helpful towards the proactivity you demonstrate through searching your device in real-time for the answer.

How This Works

• Currently, there are four, critical discovery exercises for accessing crucial relevant performance-related facts about each contractor related to her or his consumer service reputation.  [More exercises will be added in the future]

• Each exercise will begin with a leading question.

• The question is then followed by a scenario and explanation.

• You are then challenged, using that scenario and explanation.

• Then the exercise will be for you to Pause in real-time using your device [iPhone, laptop, desktop, or other] to locate the answer to a question previously asked in that particular exercise.

*The paramount objective  for each exercise is to inspire you to be physically more engaged in adopting a reliable discovery technique through using your device to locate documented, related data about a contractor or tradesperson of particular interest to you. You just might be at ease or startled by what you find.

When you locate the information, there is no need to report back on what you found or have not found. That is your business [but if you want to let us know how you were impacted by what you discovered, you can visit the CONTACT page on this site]. Nevertheless, even if you keep the discovery personal, that is entirely up to you. Just the same, after you searched your device to locate data in relation to the contracting entity he or she runs [an inseparable correlation], you just might be inspired to search even more. And that can lead to uncovering other data, good or nefarious, about the contractor’s consumer service reputation you really need to know even more about.

Happy hunting!

*Exercise One  *Exercise Two  *Exercise Three  *Exercise Four

Exercise One

This exercise will begin with a leading question.

·         The question is then followed by a scenario and explanation.

·         You are then challenged, using that scenario and explanation.

·        Then the exercise will be for you to Pause in real-time to search your device [iPhone, laptop, desktop, or other] to locate the answer to lead question asked in this exercise.

What’s Meant by ‘Validate, Then Trust?’

Suppose there’s an advertisement offering a home service plan which specializes in a slew of home repair needs. Amiss an array of colorful, slow-moving clips of ‘Before’ and ‘After’ home repair possibilities, there’s an appealing voice accompanied by a comforting melody in the background: ‘No matter what your repair challenges, Our Company Plus has got you covered, from that stubborn, old garbage disposal unit to the down water heater in the dead of winter. Our Company Plus has been in the business long enough to be there for scores of satisfied customers, and we’ll be more than honored to be there for you, too!’

Then up pops the button for you to tap to discover more reassuring details about their economical service deal through becoming a member, and receiving exclusive membership benefits. This would make you eligible to receive unique in-home service by trained professionals. Weather would be no obstacle.

*Explanation: Granted ‘Our Company Plus’ is intended to be hypothetical. Nonetheless, the offering is very similar to many ads you see in social media. But as you know, they’re not always what they make themselves out to be.

*EXERCISE: Can you think of any home improvement ads you have seen which offer great plans for having skilled professionals sent to your home for repair and improvement services? Think of one. After you have thought of a service offering like that, search your device for the company name and for any consumer complaints …… Validate the consumer-friendliness of the contracting company, FIRST, before you trust it in, on, or around your precious property.

N O W !

Please, pause this page for now to do so.

Good Luck!

Exercise Two

This exercise will begin with a leading question.

·         The question is then followed by a scenario and explanation.

·         You are then challenged, using that scenario and explanation.

·         Then the exercise will be for you to Pause in real-time to search your device [iPhone, laptop, desktop, or other] to locate the answer to lead question asked in this exercise.

Is the Contractor Registered to Do Business?

Most states and local governments require contractors working in their jurisdictions to meet certain requirements to legally do business in home improvement. Among these mandatory government requirements is for each to be registered as a contracting entity in their respective vicinities. Depending on whether the business's service area is statewide, local, or both, contractors must prove their operations are respectively registered.

*Explanation: In practically all states, whether these principal or independent contractors work statewide or locally, if they’re not duly registered as proper business entities, they cannot obtain related licenses. However, this also means that without being properly registered as a business, it’s not likely they’ll be able to obtain coverage for themselves, subcontractors, labors, and for payouts you may be eligible to receive to cover for kinks in their performance. Yet and still, most sectors of the nation require contractors to have adequate coverage. Something else, if you want a kitchen remodel, the professional contracting entity or contractor might be required to ‘pull’ a permit. But that cannot legally occur unless he or she's aptly registered to do business, and licensed. So you may want to know  whether that individual and company is not only registered to do business where you're located, but duly licensed to operate in your project's vicinity.

*EXERCISE: You can possibly streamline your search into one, meaning you can discover whether the contractor you might connect with is registered to work in your state or locality, and licensed to do so in it. Search your device using the full business name of the company for the county and state wherein your home project is located.  Search, Business Records.

N O W !

Please, pause this page for now to do so.

Good Luck!

Exercise Three

This exercise will begin with a leading question.

·         The question is then followed by a scenario and explanation.

·         You are then challenged, using that scenario and explanation.

·         Then the exercise will be for you to Pause in real-time to search your device [iPhone, laptop, desktop, or other] to locate the answer to the lead question asked in this exercise.

Can’t Locate in ‘Business Records?’

If you’ve searched you device to inquire with the Business Records division of your state to discovery whether a contractor was registered to do business in your area, but came up with a blank, that can be somewhat disappointing. But this is experienced by innumerable people all over the country. And you might be inclined to believe the contractor’s working illegally. Yet, that might not necessarily be the case.

*Explanation: Although there can be several reasons, two of the most outstanding probabilities are:

1.   Since most states don’t have statewide registration policies for contractors who work locally, or on the county or parish level, there’s the risk of looking in the wrong service area. This often creates a sort of conundrum among inquirers about contractors’ registration status. The crux of the matter is that, overwhelmingly, legitimate contractors are either listed in the state, local, or both registries. However, if they’re not in one, then they’re in the other. So, to allay the ambiguity, it’s advisable to check both. If contractors with their own businesses are registered to operate, they would appear in either the state, local, or both registries.

2.   The second most prominent explanation is that you might not be able to locate a contracting firm or independent contractor in either state or local registry since they’re not registered. And there are a list of reasons for that. Three main reasons are that a. they don’t earn enough or do the type of work which requires it, b. they’re from out of state, or both, and c. revenue agencies inadvertently allowing it due to those who are illicit offenders operating incognito, for the time being.

*EXERCISE: This time, you might want to double check, if you haven’t. However, even if you have checked Business Records, this optional exercise can be useful for future reference. It is suggested that when you search your devise, determine to visit both your state, and county or parish department of Business Records for a contracting company you have in mind…..

N O W !

Please, pause this page for now to do so.

Good Luck!

Exercise Four

This exercise will begin with a leading question.

·         The question is then followed by a scenario and explanation.

·         You are then challenged, using that scenario and explanation.

·         Then the exercise will be for you to Pause in real-time to search your device [iPhone, laptop, desktop, or other] to locate the answer to the lead question asked in this exercise.

What if the Contracting Entity has No Complaints?

Now, let’s say you searched your device using the name of the company, then discovered no listed complaints. Then it’s a go, right? No so fast. Here are a few reasons:

1.   Often some companies which are engaged in home improvement fraud aren’t publicly documented to have done so. One explanation is that those who were defrauded didn’t file civil complaints. Another explanation is that, although one or more who were scandalized by the company filed civil complaints, the matters were not treated as newsworthy. But this doesn’t discount the fact that the company has engaged in consumer exploitation.

2.   The company is new, or the principal may’ve been involved in home improvement fraud through a different company name. And so far, under this new name, there has been no published accounts of its malicious activities. Yet, to reiterate, this doesn’t discount the fact that the company has engaged in consumer exploitation.

So, although you might not see her or his new company listed for improprieties against consumers, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ‘clean.’ Still, it’s enough to deceive you into concluding, since you’ve found no complaints, the company is above reproach. Then you’re blindsided, and left to pick up the pieces. Who owns it? Is the contractor the principal? If so, then what’s her or his real name?

*Explanation: Knowing the contractor’s real name is vital because if, by chance, this contractor was chiefly associated with a previous contract firm which didn’t score well with innocent consumers, that person’s name will typically appear. By searching your device using the real name of the contractor, if there were published accounts of these deviations, her or his name would pop up along the name of the errant company.

*EXERCISE: Think of the real name of a principal contractor [one who runs the company] you just met or know. Be certain it’s the tradesperson’s real name, then search your device, using the name, referencing ‘contractor,’ meaning, as you enter the real name, use ‘/,’ or ‘-,’ then enter ‘contractor.’ Discover whether it’s associated with another contracting entity with a bad consumer reputation.

N O W !

Please, pause this page for now to do so.

Good Luck!