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Contractors
CHECKLIST |
Questions you need to ask when choosing
a contractor
Are you licensed and bonded in the District of Columbia
as a home improvement contractor?
Ask for their licensing number. Remember, a Maryland or Virginia
license is not valid in D.C. The David Mahoney Painting Company
is licensed and bonded in D.C. and our license number is 5946.
Do you carry worker's
compensation as well as public liability insurance?
It's the law and we carry both. Did you know that most injuries
result from step-ladder falls rather than extension ladders?
Here's What Happened...
In Maryland a few years ago, two men were working at a height
of less than 20 feet when their ladder board fell.
One man died and the other broke both of his legs. |
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If the contractor didn't have insurance, the homeowner would
have been 100% liable for the accident! That's a painful
lesson in checking for insurance coverage. If your contractor
employs day laborers or sub-contractors, make sure they
all have insurance.
Do you offer a warranty or any guarantees?
A contractor who is confident about his work has no problem
offering
guarantees. The David Mahoney Company offers a three-year
warranty on all work performed.
Does your proposal detail the specific work and time
lines?
Check for accurate timetables and job descriptions. Also,
the proposal should indicate what grade of materials will
be used because there is a big difference in price and
quality among paints. Regarding contracts, I say
"when in doubt, spell it out." |
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Do you have references in D.C. whom we may contact?
Advertising in a trusted, local newspaper doesn't mean the
contractor is reliable. You'll save
money and much more when you check references as well as inspect
work which the contractor has already performed. David Mahoney
can supply you with many satisfied
customers you can call as well as former jobs you can actually
visit.
How many years have you been in business?
Like anything else, a contractor who has been in business
a long time has the experience necessary to do a
better job. David Mahoney has been
painting for over 28 years and his company has been in business
since 1989. David has a proven track record that he'll be
happy to share with you. |
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