This is the seventh installment for the new ongoing HGRBS nonprofit series offering resident-friendly information for home defense. This is particularly so for our increased protection against corrupt building tradespersons working in the home remodeling, repair, and improvement industry.

*Overview

This seventh installment features the homeowner’s guide: “ Quality Of Our Thinking Evidenced By Quality Of Results”

*Focus

In the previous edition of this series (#6), we covered a pivotal weakness we can often have since we own or otherwise have ultimate “reign” over our household: self-delusions about having “command” over contractors’ behavior “because” we have “more authority.” This frame of thinking is best phrased in this paragraph under subheading, “False Sense of Authority:”

“It appears that many homeowners are under the assumption that since we are “in charge,” those working as contractors will respect our wishes “or else …” There is no doubt that means: “or else we’ll ‘fire them’ or won’t pay them.”

However, this viewpoint was clarified as a mistake. The explanation given was that our ability to manage behavior of building tradespersons towards keeping their promises is only as good as their moral values. Differently explained, if they are conniving, then our express or implied threat to be rid of them if they default, is on no effect. Further, it was stressed that if fired, they often pick up from where they left off through preying on another unprepared homeowner. There is little to no loss on their behalf – but a significant catastrophe on ours.

*Avoiding Catastrophe

A great place to begin for ensuring the contractors we hire are worthy is with the hiring process. It is understood that we have our own way of deciding who to hire. But we can seriously err if our method is not clearly defined to practically guarantee we are making a reasonable decision. How do we KNOW our choices are based on clear evidence of contractors’ credibility? Do we go online for a few moments to pick a company with the most stars? To we gauge the quality of the decision we must make on lavish displays on the website of great projects they do or have accomplished? How do we know they had anything to do with them?

Are we just going to take their word for it? But who are they? Do we “really” know? Are we going to base our decision on the fact that these tradespersons are “home-store-recommended?” Will we hire them through sharing our financial information online with complete strangers for our “customized contractor?” We may want to bear in mind that any decision we make has significant value.

#Quality Decisions: Poor or Excellent?

Our decisions to hire are either poorly or excellently made. The former are made with little or no significant knowledge of contractors expertise and morality; the latter are made having clear knowledge of favorable reputation of these tradespersons.

We may be interested in knowing about this story: A while back a senior homeowner was callously defrauded by a contractor who the victim apparently did not have reasonable knowledge about. Reportedly, the resident consented to advancing him roughly one-third of a project bid at over $100,000. It was for a new home.

In the final analysis, the contractor did some work, then abandoned the project. It is hardly likely he intended to complete it. Even more, far from the slightest possibility of having a reputation in the neighborhood for being capable of the nature of work he promised to deliver. But he was “convincing enough” – like most residential predators.

*Ketting Man Sentenced to Four Years For Contractor Fraud, WDTN, April 14, 2021

*Conclusion

We may want to sincerely think about the high-risk factors accepting “unsolicited” contractors or those who are not known to do exceptionally well the nature of work we have in mind. A great way to begin doing this more is to think about our home as we would our children and others very close to us. Will we take the kindness of a contractor over the safety of our household? Will we trust someone we do not know to drive our kids to school? Will we leave our homes to strange people walking in off the streets without knowing who they are? Will we hire building tradespersons working as home improvement contractors we really do not know enough about? Will we invest as much time as necessary to be CERTAIN they are not swindlers? Will we? Who are they in truth?

Another fact, we are accountable to ensuring that our decisions are of the best possible quality. It does not just happen. Instead, it is purposefully refined through "garnering" all the right information to "use" which have highest probability for safeguarding our best interests.

There is a very special free homeowner’s guide which relates to ensuring the quality of our thinking is always refined to ensure that the quality of contractors we hire align with the quality of work we expect:

“Quality Of Our Thinking Evidenced By Quality Of Results” [see Resource Box].

This unique homeowners guide can be a very useful tool for re-evaluating our approach to hiring building tradespersons. It can inspire us to make better decisions. Our reward: better results.

*HGRBS is always glad to hear from you. If you have benefited in some way from this article, please use the “Comment” link below. Response time varies.

Edited with special assistance from J. Anderson

Public Courtesy – HGRBS – Since 2009

*HGRBS, is a national volunteer nonprofit which is an exclusive consumer information service. There is an emphasis on supporting self-empowerment among U.S. private home decision makers. Special focus is on sharing related information enabling residents to make safest and wisest decisions in resident-contractor relations.