While many San Antonio siding, deck, roofing, and home improvement contractors turn old, dilapidated houses into fabulous-looking ones, there are others who make a bad situation even worse. Local news provider KSAT.com reported that Christie Howard, a San Antonio resident, hired a contractor with the hopes of having her house refurbished, but failed to get her money's value or her remodeling project done. She complained that the contractor took her money without completing his tasks.
"He gave us a price and we're like OK that sounds good," Howard said. "He said $5,400. That was taken from my 401k. I actually borrowed on my 401k." The project involved constructing a small covered deck and a new back door, plus installing new siding and fencing.
Howard noticed that the deck boards had huge gaps while the siding work was poorly executed. The fencing and the new back door were not installed at all, while protruding nails and piles of materials were left around her property. "It's still not fair," she said. "I paid you [the contractor] the money to do something, you should've done it."
The contractor initially could not be found even as Howard sent certified letters to him upon advice by her lawyer. The KSAT crew also tried to reach him through phone calls and visits to his home. Eventually, they got a response. The contractor said he had done work in other parts of Howard's house instead of the door, siding, and fencing, and that his client already got her money's worth.
Cases like this happen especially if homeowners fail to conduct due diligence and background checks on the contractors they hire. In searching for San Antonio siding replacement, roofing, and home improvement contractors, it is advisable to check if they are equipped with appropriate licenses and if they are fully insured. Some contractors offer enticing deals to unsuspecting customers without the latter realizing that the contractors are actually unlicensed. It is also recommended that homeowners avoid paying fully for any work in advance.
The KSAT.com report went on to say that homeowners should check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) if the contractors they are looking to hire are accredited and have received high ratings from the group. Going for a contractor that has an A+ rating, like Southwest Exteriors, ensures timely job order deliveries, professionalism, and exceptional customer service. As reported by KSAT, the contractor hired by Howard received an F- rating from the BBB for his failure to complete the job.