I have known Rick Roberge for over 25 years and I am amazed that sales training from Rick 25 years ago, is still helping me succeed today. He has slowly teased me in the past few months that I could probably be the author of a blog and that I have a lot to offer based on my many years of experience in the remodeling industry. Somehow he knew what to say at the right time to slowly churn the fire within me to a point where the only obvious action was to begin my blogging experience. Yesterday he invited me and made it easy for me to do the only thing that made sense. Act!!!!

I originally posted this blog on Rick’s blog. I am now posting it on mine. Thanks to Rick for the encouragement to make this happen.

For years, a fire has been burning inside me to speak about the subject of homeowners who have had the unfortunate experience of hiring the wrong contractor to work on their home. Week after week I have witnessed remodeling and home improvement projects done poorly by contractors. Homeowner after homeowner experienced shoddy workmanship, unfinished jobs, money taken with no work completed, the wrong materials used for the job and three month projects taking a year to complete. Is it any wonder that homeowners have developed a mistrust of contractors? In a recent government report consumers rated contractors as the most complaint ridden industry in the country! Worse than used car dealers!

The purpose of my blog will be to create a forum for homeowners to talk about how to prevent a bad contractor experience. My hope is that this forum will help homeowners become educated and informed on the importance of hiring the right contractor for their home improvement projects.

I look forward to the challenge ahead. If this endeavor saves one homeowner from experiencing a contractor nightmare, the time invested will be well worth the effort. I welcome any feedback or ideas for topics to discuss from our readers.

In addition to thanking Rick Roberge for this opportunity, I would like to thank the amazing Pete Caputa for his support and help regarding the blog concept. Pete has begun to blossom under the tutelage of Rick Roberge, just as I did over 25 years ago.

Well for now, my first post has been cast and I am excited about the new horizons that lie ahead.

Do you know anyone who has had a nightmare contractor experience? Maybe yourself, a friend, relative or neighbor? Since 2001 according to statistics provided by the Federal Trade Commission and various consumer protection groups, home improvement contractors and the remodeling industry are responsible for the most complaints from consumers. Home improvement contractors are responsible for more complaints than used car salesman and mortgage brokers.

In a recent survey by Qualified Remodeler Magazine hundreds of homeowners surveyed said that they would never refer or use their contractor again. The most common complaints were poor communication, poor craftsmanship, delayed projects, dirty jobs, unmet expectations. Can you blame the homeowner for not trusting the contractor? Of course not. I have been a Design/build remodeling expert for 15 years and I have lost count of the amount of homeowners I met who have been the victim of a poor contracting job. As I launch my own blog I am astounded by the amount of ill-will that consumers have toward contractors. It seems almost every week there is another contractor nightmare story in the newspaper or on the news.

• How can this change?
• How can homeowners protect themselves?
• Why are contractors so poor at servicing the consumer?
• Why are our elected officials allowing this to go on?
• What are contractors doing about it?
• What questions should a homeowner ask before hiring a contractor?

The Stigma of the Industry
When I meet a homeowner who has been referred I usually have no trouble gaining their trust and confidence. However, when I meet a homeowner who does not know me through referral I find that I have to overcome the stigma of the poor performance of my industry before I can professionally service the customer. There are fine reputable contractors who have to bear the sins of the fly by night outfits. Many times homeowners are so guarded that their distrust of contractors in general causes the good contractor to lose interest in their job.
When this happens, homeowners end up with the less quality outfit. This leads to more bad contractor experiences.

Industry experts state that 90% of contracting businesses fail in the first five years. The reasons are many but it is clear that homeowners are at a distinct disadvantage when hiring a contractor. Only one in 10 contracting businesses make it. So how do you prevent a contractor night mare?

These are the topics I will talk about on my blog. I believe that the home improvement industry must do better by educating their employees to treat homeowners properly. I believe in 100% customer satisfaction.
Contractors must become better sales people and listen and serve the customer. The customer was not born with a construction manual in his or her head so the contractor must educate the homeowner. An educated and properly informed consumer will gladly hire the professional contractor. Education is the key to a healthier relationship between homeowners and contractors. Once contractors adopt a 100% customer satisfaction attitude then they will see less complaints against the home improvement industry and then used car salesman can regain their position as the most complained about industry again!

I welcome and encourage any feedback regarding this. If you have an idea or topic you would like to discuss please contact me.

Well today begins my journey into the world of blogging. I am thankful for the coaching and encouragement ofRick Roberge and Pete Caputa for helping me see the possibilities of blogging.

MY MISSION AND PURPOSE
To educate consumers and homeowners on the subject of how to hire a professional contractor so that they do not become the victim of unscrupulous contractors. Through education, homeowners can arm themselves with the information they need to prevent becoming a contractor nightmare story. This education process will force poor quality firms to improve or go out of business.

I hope this venue will become a great forum to teach homeowners that there are sure fire ways to hire the right contractor to do work on their homes.

I also hope this venue will be frequented by contractors who share the same concern as I that contractors need to do a better job in policing the industry against Johnny Hook & Ladder.

In the past 5 years Consumer Protection Groups logged the most common complaints in America and found that Home Improvement is the most complained about industry in the country. Just imagine that contractors have a worse reputation than used car salesman.

This blog will focus on issues concerning what homeowners can do to prevent becoming a contractor nightmare. I look forward to your participation and ideas. In addition, I hope contractors who are concerned about the Stigma of the home improvemnt industry will offer their ideas and comments.

If this endeavor prevents one homeowner/contractor nightmare story it will prove to be well worth the effort. I look forward to hearing from you.