Contractors and big deposits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Long Island, New York, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) January 25, 2012 -- On Long Island, my business, Lee Decorating Corporation advises against giving any contractor large deposits. It can only work against the consumers best interests. I have seen the homeowner that had $50K walk and work left unfinished in Massapequa a few years ago on an Arnold Diaz “Shame on you” consumer report. This is quite common and my claim can be backed up by the Nassau County Department of Consumers affairs.

I do not usually take a deposit and will ask for payment only as a job progresses. I always make sure the customer owes me money not me owing work for monies received. I do not like owing one of my customers labor.

Over the past 25 years I have witnessed too many jobs not able to be painted as scheduled due to delays caused by other contractors had no real financial incentive to finish their work. This effects my bottom line and causes my painters to lose days of work. I cannot bill the homeowner for the delay and would never think of doing that.

It is a sad truth that everyone has heard horror stories about. the contractor that took deposits and no showed, did shoddy work and then disappeared or just made the homeowner wait for the final finish work. You can protect yourself by being a smart consumer.

A reputable and successful contractor should be able to buy simple supplies and be able to pay his employees for a week without taking excessive deposits. If not, they are walking a fine financial line and could be out of business at any time. I do not say never to give a deposit. If custom items are ordered a payment should be given. Never give more than 25% in advance and pay as the job progresses with 25% due upon completion. Holding back such a significant amount of money will insure the contractor finishes. He was a financial incentive and will do everything possible to get his money. Otherwise, there is a good chance he will take another job and another large deposit and start that job while you wait or have a single laborer babysit your job.

As a painting contractor that rarely takes a deposit I can virtually guarantee my customers that I will show up every day. If I do not, I cannot get my money, thus I have a strong financial carrot in front of me. I have laid out labor and materials.

Many bargain painters on Long Island have no license, no insurance, no credit, no office, no land line phone and if they run off with your deposit, you really have very little recourse. It is also very hard for the department of Consumer Affairs to track these “ghosts” down. One easy way to see if a contractor is legitimate is to ask for a copy of their business license and then due you due diligence and check if it is valid. I hand every potential customer a packet about Lee Decorating Corporation and my license it displayed clearly as is my name and my license number is on my proposal and on the cover of the packet. I have nothing to fear. I am proud of the service my company provides and do not fear full disclosure.

There is one thing I am a stickler on, since I work on honor and wait to be paid. I expect a check to be ready as soon as I am done painting if not, we accept credit cards. Nothing is as insulting as a homeowner that does not have payment available. I am not a bank and should never have to chase a customer for payment. If you cannot afford the payment, you should refrain from painting. I will not refrain from placing a mechanics lien. Respect works both ways.

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