J. ROY CONSTRUCTION

How close do you stay to time lines and budgets?

The budget and a reasonable time frame are stated in the contract, which is signed by all parties with copies provided before I break ground or start any project. Check with my references and you will find, I do what I say.

 

How are payments made, and when are they made?

These terms are broken down in the contract based on the progress of the project with a completion date included. In the State of California, the down payment of a Home Improvement Contract may not exceed $1,000 or 10% of the contract, whichever is less. Typically I do not take a deposit at the beginning of a contract. Once the work is completed to a pre-determined point, a pre-determined payment is made, with final payment due upon completion.

 

How many of your customers come from repeat business, or from referrals from existing or previous customers?

I am very fortunate to say that over 90% of my customers come to me or are referred to me from customers I have performed work for in the past. As you will see when you check my references, there is a reason for such a loyal client base.

 

What about permits?

Depending on your location and what is being done, a permit might be required or it may not. If a permit is required for your project, I will obtain the permit, handle all inspections, and make sure everything is built to code, and that the project and process satisfies all requirements to the letter of the law.

 

What about building in Davis, CA?

I have been responsible for building projects in many different jurisdictions. Davis is not much different from other cities in California, although it often adopts more stringent code levels. Over the years, building code requirements have become much more stringent and complex. In California, there are now energy and green codes to comply with, in addition to health and safety requirements. In general, building codes are in place for a reason and it is wiser and much less expensive to comply now then answer for not complying later.

 

What should I be asking my contractor?

A few key questions to ask could be: “How long have you been in business?”, “Have you ever done a project like this one, if so tell me about it?”, “Do you have insurance?”, “Who does the work; you, your employees, or is the project completely done by sub-contractors?” With years of experience under my belt, J. Roy Construction is happy to provide all of these answers, and provide a long list of references.

 

What about materials?

Important materials are specified in the contract. All materials are covered, however, as substitutions are sometimes unavoidable, I make it clear that an equal substitution will be made, but only upon your approval. For items such as lighting fixtures or doorknobs that have not been chosen when the contract is signed, a detailed allowance is specified in the contract to cover exactly what is budgeted to be spent on these items.

 

What is a change order?

A change order is a written statement signed by the customer authorizing the contractor to do additional work not included in the original contract.  All change orders must be agreed upon in writing, including cost and additional time considerations, and signed by both parties. 

 

All my Contracts include a Checklist for Homeowners. This check list includes the following:

 

Check out the Contractor

• Did you contact the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) to check the status of the contractor's license? Contact the CSLB at 1-800-321-CSLB (2752) or visit our web site: www.cslb.ca.gov

• J. Roy Construction's Contractor number is B 702123. The B classification denotes "General Building Contractor".

• Did you get at least 3 local references from the contractors you are considering? Did you call them?

•  Building Permits - will the contractor get a permit before the work starts? Is the cost of the permit covered in the contract?

 

Check Out the Contract

• Did you read and do you understand your contract?

• Does the 3-day right to cancel a contract apply to you? 

• Does the contract tell you when work will start and end?

• Does the contract include a detailed description of the work to be done, the material to be used, and equipment to be installed? This description should include brand names, model numbers, quantities and colors. Specific descriptions now will prevent disputes later.

• Are you required to pay a down payment? If you are, the down payment should never be more than 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less.

• Is there a schedule of payments? If there is a schedule of payments, you should pay only as work is completed and not before.

• Did your contractor give you a "Notice to Owner", a warning notice describing liens and ways to prevent them? Check the "Notice to Owner" standard clause in my contract for ways to protect yourself.

• Did you know changes or additions to your contract must be in writing? Putting changes in writing reduces the possibility of a later dispute.