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What BAD Contractors Won’t Tell You
Getting to Know the Underbelly of the Housing Industry

By: C.P. Breidenstein, CAPS, MiHERS CGP, CGB.
Host of Metro-Detroit’s The Inside Outside Guys on FM 103.5
Address comments to Chuck@Theinsideoutsideguys.com

Homeowners are between the rock of proverb and a really hard place. Hiring any professional whether medical, legal, mechanical or “other” is an anguished and high risk role of the dice. How can we know what questions to ask or whose referral to trust? The real truth is that if we knew what the real professionals know, we wouldn’t need them in the first place. But we don’t know and we do need them. We need real experts. When it comes to our homes we have been misled by marketing, television, and our own clouded vision to think we can do most everything ourselves. But this just isn’t true. Ask any purchaser of an existing home who has fallen victim to the results of the previous owner’s DIY-ism. Un-safe wiring, cobbled plumbing, textured surfaces that try to cover a bad drywall application….the list goes on.

So a method of how to shop for real housing experts is needed. The lesson might begin with a better understanding of the “underbelly practioner’s", or "Ubs", of the housing industry. Ubs are real people pretending to be real professionals. Like the wolf in sheep’s clothing, they may take advantage of your trust if you do not properly understand how they work. Following are some of the things these Ubs won’t tell you.

  1. I don’t really have a business. Yes, I do own tools and equipment and I have done some work like this in the past. But the real truth is I haven’t taken the time or invested the money and effort to create a business. Ubs don’t have a clue. A REAL business will have a plan for how it will serve a group of people with specific products or services. Ubs will claim to be “able” to do it all and most often by themselves, without the burden of permits, offices, insurance, regulations, etc. Ubs are not as likely to be vested in the community with real office locations.

  2. I have twenty years of repetition. Ten, fifteen or twenty years in business should represent years of growth and positive change, but the Ubs have simply been doing the same thing over and over again. They have no continued investment in the business of what they do and no real continuing education and training. Rather than strategize advanced ways to grow and satisfy clients, Ubs stumble into new tools and techniques. They don’t have experience, they have repetition. Steve Neto, a professional plasterer, drywaller and paint finisher makes the point when he says “Each job offers a chance for continued growth. I served an apprenticeship under a real pro and the best thing he taught me was that we are never done learning and improving.” That’s the guy I want doing my work.

  3. The best work I do is the part you see. Like cosmetic surgery, what you see on the outside may not accurately represent what’s on the inside. In housing this is critical. You may see new shingles on your roof, but what lies beneath? Is the roof and eaves properly flashed? Do you have the correct decking and structural components supporting the dead weight of the roofing material? Is the space beneath the roof set up to provide proper ventilation of heat and moisture so the roof will perform over time? How do you know what grade and weight of shingle you received? Are the shingles even properly fastened? You don’t know. All you know is the guy that did the work had cool stuff and it looks like there’s new shingles on the roof now. A professional will discuss all of these items with you and offer options and written warranties that address these issues.

  4. I hire bodies, not personnel. A REAL business person recognizes the true value of its “human assets” in many ways. They have a strategy for hiring and tend to hire slowly and invest in training. They realize that people represent the social fabric of an organization, so it is critical to have the right people in the best positions doing things correctly. Real businesses create systems that help assure consistent practices and, thus, predictable outcomes. When problems arise in a well structured business, they are quickly and appropriately dealt with so the customer does not suffer. Ubs hire people based on their ability to fog a mirror. People come and go and often times don’t even show. They can’t work efficiently, so your money gets wasted in ways you won’t even see. Bob Knowles, President of Knowles Roofing in the Metro-Detroit area sums it up by saying “If I don’t hire and continually train good people, my customer’s will suffer, and my business will cease to exist”.

  5. I pay myself first. I pay my bills when it’s convenient. A REAL business knows that its suppliers and other professional contacts are critical to their mutual and long-term success. Stan Marko, Owner of Concrete Waterproofing Solutions says “My first obligation is always to my clients and my professional partners – never to myself”. Ubs run every check right to the bank to get cash for the next tank of gas. They live job to job, paycheck to paycheck. A REAL business doesn’t live on the edge of a financial cliff. It has money in the bank, equity in tools and equipment and the real estate called “a place of business”.

  6. I don’t plan beyond the moment. How many things in or on a house can be done well and affordably without good planning? A house is a series of systems and parts that are all co-dependent. If one system or piece of this complex puzzle is wrong or fails, the entire building could be in jeopardy. Think about that. One small roof or plumbing leak. A bad sump pump, furnace, or gas line installation. Poorly installed insulation, siding, windows, doors……the list goes on. What are the potential consequences? Ubs don’t know or don’t get this. Ubs will apply band aids to surface issues without considering the impact of their actions over time. That’s why Ubs are always cheaper. What’s the cost of a band-aid compared to trained eyes, anti-septic, anti-biotics, and sterile gauze? A Pro-builder will always plan based on knowledge. They can anticipate the impact of their decisions over time. They plan accordingly and sell to the reality of the building sciences. Ubs can’t even spell “science”.

  7. Your job is just a next step on my way to more work. Ubs see each job as a paycheck until the next bill comes due. A business see’s your need as an opportunity to further its reputation. Each job is a chance to reinforce confidence and get referrals that will help it grow and prosper. The businessman-contractor understands volume growth is a cancer without long-term strategy and planning. A pro will not take on work that isn’t intended to further the best interests of both the client and the business. Ubs are like the bad suitor. They will promise any thing any time to get a “yes” from you

  8. I can hold your home hostage to my bad work. Did you know a contractor might be able to legally sell your home at auction for un-paid work or supplies they or their team members furnish to your home? Be afraid. A professional is going to put these things in writing and explain them to you. Ken Calverley, CEO of KC Masonry and Concrete Impressions says “Our best customer is one who is educated about all these issues. If they don’t know, we try hard to give them the real facts in writing.” You may pay Ubs in full when the work appears to be complete. But what if Ubs don’t pay the laborers and suppliers that they owe money to? This often happens in slow market economies and it can subject your home to a lien and you to financial jeopardy.

  9. Codes and regulations are really important. Many UBS will tell you “this work doesn’t need a permit. They’ll just raise your taxes if you pull a permit”. This is like a drug dealer telling you that two consenting adults can somehow make an illegal deal legal. Can’t happen. Ubs don’t want to pull permits because operating below the law may help them swindle more people before getting caught. On the other hand if you as a homeowner undertake, or cause to be undertaken, work for which a permit is required; you had better make certain the permit is pulled. There is potential long-term liability associated with ignoring code requirements. Among these is the possibility an insurance policy will cancel or deny payment in the event of a fire of other accident.

Wow! A lot of things to consider. This list may not be all-inclusive, but it definitely is a solid start to helping all homeowner’s make better decisions regarding how to hire for home repairs, modifications, and construction. Keep in mind Underbelly Practitioners may look and sound like legitimate professionals. It is up to you to protect your home and your sanity by staying one step ahead of them. If you can’t afford to do it well, accept the truth you can’t afford to do it now. After all when you think about it, you wouldn’t purchase a do-it-yourself kit for root canals or open-heart surgery. Why even consider less than the best for your home?

Amen