There's mold in my home: When should I call a professional?

Mold found in homes can sometimes be remedied with a simple do-it-yourself (DIY) fix. However, when homeowners encounter large masses of mold growth, a contractor with legitimate certifications and experience is of utmost importance in order to avoid further (and more costly) damage and potential health problems.

Q: When should professional contractors step in? 
A: When mold begins growing in large quantities, the surface it’s growing on cannot be repaired with a DIY method, and its source (like a severe pipe leak) cannot be repaired without the help of a professional.

Certified contractors generally begin a mold remediation job by running lab tests to identify the type of mold on the scene. A remediation contractor will then define the best process to address the situation and commence work to remove or clean the affected area(s).

Homeowners dealing with significant amounts of mold will often need to remove drywall or discard moldy carpeting simply because it's impossible to clean. The removal process is sensitive; if a contractor is not well-versed or certified, they may further spread mold spores in the removal process. This can lead to additional remediation work and can trigger health issues, such as mold allergies. Always rely on professional workers to get the job done right the first time.

When it comes time to bring a professional mold contractor into the job, call Specialized Outsource Solutions for referrals to certified professional companies in your area. Speak with their customer service team at 888-589-1868 any day of the week, any time of day.

Share Your Story

Getting testimony from real people about real life scenarios is one of the most compelling ways the Specialized Outsource Solutions team has found to support the act of hiring a qualified contractor. In other words, our clients really enjoy a story about a job gone wrong because, most of the time, they can relate.

SOS is asking our entire online community, from family and friends to past and present clients, to share experiences about encountering less-than-ideal contracting work. Here are some of the types of stories we’re talking about:

• A job where you’ve dealt with a late, unprofessional or shady contractor
• When you’ve had to take appropriate legal action when a job goes south
• How to know if a company is reputable from the get-go
• Indicators that point out when a contractor may not be qualified
• An experience when a bad start to a job turned out great and why
• Your reiteration of a friend or neighbor’s story of a nightmare experience involving a contractor
• Or anything else you can think of! Everyone’s story is unique and can contribute to the conversation.

We all know that history repeats itself. Your contribution may prevent someone else from having a similar bad experience.

HOW CAN YOU SHARE YOUR STORY?

1. In the comment section below
2. On our Facebook page

We really hope to hear from you! Remember, SOS is in business to help provide a solution to these types of problems. Always get a quality contractor. Next time you need referrals, fill out our online Service Request form or call SOS at 1-888-589-1868.

(Please note that mentioning company names or the names of workers is at your own risk, and the claims made are not a representation of SOS.)

Answering Your Questions About Certified Contracting

Some of Specialized Outsource Solutions’ clients have been talking to us a lot about one of our recent blog posts from June 2013 titled “Notify a Bad Contractor with a Breach of Contract Letter.” Since most people can relate to stories about hiring bad contractors, either on a personal note or through a neighbor or friend, SOS hopes to shed more insight into this type of scenario.

An esteemed source of information on this topic is California’s Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The team at SOS has put together information from the CSLB website pertaining to questions that often arise from our community. See if you can learn something new today:

• Cool tool: CLICK HERE to easily check a contractor’s license information and their complaint disclosure
• It is illegal for a construction contractor to ask for a down payment of more than 10% of the total contract price or $1,000 – whichever less is
• Take these precautions to avoid mechanics liens: Make payments at the same pace of the project, get joint signatures on payment checks between the prime contractor and their suppliers/subcontractors, sign proper lien release forms, and make the final payment after you’re satisfied and all parties have been compensated
• Never make cash payments
• Leave a paper trail whenever possible (receipts, copies of signed documents, etc)
• Licensed contractors, by law, are required to list their license number on all forms of advertising (e.g. business cards, websites, contracts, etc.)
• Unlicensed contracting, by law, cannot exceed a total contract cost of $500 (including labor and materials)
• CLICK HERE to see how the complaint process works for licensed contractors
• CLICK HERE to see how the complaint process works for unlicensed contractors

We really enjoy answering questions and addressing concerns when it comes to our line of business. What do you need to know? Leave your questions below in the “comments” section, or email us at info@sos-crnnetwork.com. Remember, SOS will refer you to quality contractors for a job done right.

(SOURCE: Department of Consumer Affairs. Contractors State License Board. http://www.cslb.ca.gov/)

Notify a Bad Contractor with a Breach of Contract Letter

If you've hired a bad contractor who has not lived up to the signed contract, you can notify them of a breach of contract and request that they remedy the parts of the job that have gotten off track.

Start with examining your contract. It’s important you find ways to prove the agreement between you and the contractor has been compromised. Document these indiscretions as best as possible, as this will be the basis of your case if things get really messy and you have to go to court. Make sure to be as specific as possible (include dates, times, specific events, etc.).

After you document the specific issues, write a formal letter detailing the breach of contract. This will be sent to the contracting company and will serve as a notice of your terms. These terms should request the violation(s) be resolved within a given amount of days. The typical amount of time is 10 days from the date of the letter.

It's important to note the contract you signed may have language that describes what happens if either party breaches the contract. If so, be sure to note this in your letter. Conclude with a statement about pursuing appropriate legal action if the issues are not remedied within your proposed time frame.

• Be professional, not emotional
• Avoid foul language
• Use a formal letterhead
• Date the letter 
• Make a copy for your records
• Do not threaten suing or filing a lawsuit, as you may get legal ramifications if you threaten these things without actual intention of doing so
• Include a copy of the original contract and if you reference certain parts of it in your letter be sure to cite where (e.g. “On page two, paragraph five…”)
• Mail the letter via certified mail at the post office and request a delivery confirmation. Keep it in your files once you are notified it has been delivered
• Log on to the California State Contractor’s Website to file a formal complaint against the contractor 
• Be wary of bashing the contractor on social media websites, as libel can pose more unwanted, messy problems

(NOTE: Consult with an attorney regarding specific state contract laws)

If this has happened to you, make sure to hire a reputable contractor the next time around, and review the contract carefully before proceeding. Call Specialized Outsource Solutions at 1.888.589.1868 for referrals to qualified contractors. 

If you've had a bad experience with a contractor, please share your story on our Facebook site so others may benefit from your advice.

Fire Your Neighborhood Handyman & Hire a Pro

When home repairs are required, people often either take matters into their own hands and attempt to make their own repairs or opt for the less expensive route of hiring a handyman. However, there are many unforeseen issues that often arise. When it’s time to hire a professional, make sure you go about it the right way. Here’s why:

1. Get your job done right the first time

Finding a certified professional contractor means the job will be completed by someone with the proper skills, experience, training, and qualifications. Searching for the right contractor can be tedious and sometimes people end up hiring unqualified contractors, fly-by-night contractors who may not finish the job or contractors who aren't insured, licensed or bonded. The work done by tradesmen without credibility often becomes a temporary quick-fix, resulting in a much larger and more costly problem. This means going through a secondary search of hiring someone with the proper certifications to fix the damages resulting from hiring an unqualified tradesperson to do repairs.

2. Cheap repairs can lead to more costly fixes

When it comes to big, important home repair jobs, do not give in to penny-pinching. Hiring someone from your neighborhood to finish a job in your house often leads to calling a professional contractor in the long run, adding more time and money to the project. Professional tradesmen working with credible companies have the specialized knowledge to remedy your home repairs. Spend your hard-earned money on someone who can analyze the problem and fix it properly. Consider it an investment in your home and its appreciated value over time.

Specialized Outsource Solutions gives people like you a one-call solution: We refer reputable contractors who won’t put you through a second round of repairs. The companies affiliated with our network pass any negotiated cost savings on to our clients, assuring you pay for a job well done.

Call 888-589-1868 or access our online service request form to get your next job done right… the first time.