Some of us like the idea of keeping a local handyman or small company busy and dealing with someone who lives and works in our local area
all the time. Others of us like to deal with a big company that is nationwide or the region's big company that has been around forever. In
this month's article we will discuss the cons of using either company.

Let’s start with the “Giant Corporation”. As with most things, there are trade offs. We have to realize that perception is your reality - just not the only reality.

The cons of dealing with a big company are:
1. Not Personalized Care
2. All About The Money
3. They Have Too Many Complaints Online

In response to #1: the fact is that it depends on the salesman or estimator that you meet. A lot of times in big construction companies
the job is turned over to a project manager. You should make it a priority to ask whom your contact will be, be comfortable with them
and be able to contact them at anytime.

In response to #2: the larger the company, the less of a demand for immediate payment; and they can afford to have a job hold off final
payment.

In response to #3: It’s all about percentages. Of course, Wal-Mart is going to have more people who complain about their company's practices than the small hardware store 20 miles out of town. If push comes to shove, the larger company is more likely to just return your money and cut ties if serious issues arise or the threat of a lawsuit is brought into the equation.

Now onto the local company’s cons:
1. They might take my money and run or keep asking for more money to finish the job.
2. They don’t have a uniform or a logo on their truck.
3. Will they be around in a year if I have a problem?

In response to #1: a contractor, by law, cannot obtain more than 10% or $1,000.00 for a down payment, which ever is less. If your contractor is requesting a draw schedule or payments throughout the job, make sure you have it in writing. As a consumer you have the power to be satisfied with the work and pay when the job is finished satisfactorily.

In response to #2: Overhead. That word refers to the cost of doing business that all business owners deal with. The lower the overhead, the more money they make or the lower they need to charge for the services they render. Uniforms, logos, company signage - all of these things cost money and a company polo with a snazzy logo doesn’t mean you're getting a better quality job.

In response to #3: this is where personal references are important. Having a job that looks good for a bit and then issues arrive later is
not uncommon in the building trades. If you make sure you are using licensed contractors, you may just eliminate a big headache if a
project goes awry.

Be sure to check for part 2 of this article in next month’s edition, where we will discuss the "pros" of using large companies and the smaller, local business.