Seasonal Home Improvement Hiring Tips for Seattle Homeowners

Hiring for Success: This holiday season is definitely powered by high expectations for being a bit kinder and more generous towards others. And we often anticipate our polity and benevolence being appreciated. And that this gratitude is shown, even if only slightly. Homes are decorated, candles are lit, and there’s an exuberance about it all. Oh well, it’s that time of the year, all right - Hanukkah [ongoing since Dec 14 ‘til 22], Christmas [Dec 25], Kwanzaa [Dec 26-Jan 1], and more. Often there are things to get done on the property for any number of reasons, and some require the assistance to professionals. After all, there just might be a few things beyond our normal abilities to do right. Perhaps it’s a leaking roof, rickety stairs and bannisters. Maybe it’s a room we’d like to paint or re-decorate in ample time for expected guests from out of town, but we don’t have all that’s needed or the time to DIY professionally. Then again, perhaps a quick change out for the kitchen sink, the counter, or maybe new cabinets that’ll require less than a day to install. Who knows? You do. And, the company or person you hire to get it done, and to get it done right [the first time] is what you need. No doubt, in situations such as these, you’ll expect the company or individual you hire to be aptly skilled to deliver professionally and expeditiously. This is certainly aligned with the prospects of innumerable Seattle private home decision-makers. However, these results rest on the choices made in relation to the caliber and integrity of the contractor [company or individual].

Last Minute Hires: There are occasions when property owners make last minute hires. Although quite a few home improvement projects are planned in advance, there can be times when circumstances evolve to a point when you need work done in, on, or around the property a bit later during the holiday season than expected. For example, recently Seattle, and neighboring regions have experienced flooding with wind gusts up to 40-55 mph. Ref., Additionally, there were home evacuation orders in multiple areas of also Seattle metro regions that are very probably still in effect as of this writing which reportedly caused mass home flooding, mudslides, fallen trees, power outages, and various levels of property damage. And despite the fact that government first responders[property cleanup crews, etc.] still bear the brunt of the clean-up in public spaces, much of the rest will have to be done by informal volunteers and paid contractors in the private setting. This can be the case, since despite the fact that Gov. Ferguson has made an appeal for federal disaster relief funding, this is historically off-pace with what needs to be done on the property, now. In this view, affected Seattle private home decision-makers who are cleared to return to their homes [if they needed to evacuate], are resigned to shouldering the burden of managing the cleanup and repairs on their premises [except for public utility concerns]. And there may no longer be volunteers since many might have their own households to restore in the aftermath. Subsequently, they’ll need qualified professional assistance to at least restore their abodes to a respectable degree of livability and comfort during this holiday season. Obviously this qualified as an unplanned pursuit for last-minute addressing of home improvement needs.

In A Vulnerable Situation: No doubt, it’s in times like these when Seattle property owners can be more susceptible to home improvement fraud. This is a reason it can be very useful to have an ‘all-season’ priority against making on-the-spot contractor hiring decisions. In other words, the dishonest segment of tradespersons in the ‘construction industry’ [of which home improvement contractors are also considered], operate the same during winter, spring, summer, fall, and holiday seasons. For them, there’s no special time to engage in residential transgressions, except for when given the opportunity. Further, it’s reasonably suggested this privilege is especially given when homeowners are in their best moods. And holiday seasons usually factor. At these times residents are seemingly more friendly and willing to be more trusting and merciful toward others. For sure, even the worst working in residential contracting feel the same. Only thing, it’s not so much as for the benefit of homeowners and their households, as it is for these questionable contractors, and their own. Prospectively, this corrupt element is hardwired for exploiting the confidence of innocent private home decision-makers, even during the holidays. But if homeowners are solidly decisive about not hiring a contracting entity or individual on-the-spot [pending vetting results], there’s then more of a likelihood for making a right hiring choice for achieving expected results.

For the Record: Please, remember what we’ve broached about the high probability of deviant contractors having an all season predisposition towards consumer scandalizing. This normally doesn’t change. Most importantly, not so long ago there was a local news report which highlighted a ‘Scam Alert.’ Although the report featured the inappropriate business practices of a certain tradesperson working in the construction industry, it also referenced the ongoing threat by bad actors to Seattle homeowners in general. Ref. In truth, we might want to take the threat more seriously when professional assistance is required addressing what we need accomplished around the home as either a last minute approach in the aftermath of a storm, or as a planned effort.

Summary: It’s completely understood that during holiday seasons many of us are all ears for good news regarding matters of the home and exciting social and religious events. And often we can be so caught up in the exuberance of the season, that we might not want to think about anything going wrong. Even the suggestion of something not going our way can be offensive. However, we know at this point in our lives, reality isn’t all peaches and cream. There are unpleasant moments. And, of course, it's classically ironic that although we don’t like unpleasant moments, we sometimes do things which can also be, yet in the end fruitful. As a point of focus, between dads and moms, we know mom understands the feat insurmountably more than dad. There are just some things that must be done, regardless of discomfort. This is especially so when the end justifies the means. Preparing against home improvement fraud is like that. Hardly anyone wants to get ‘bogged down’ with shoring up awareness against being a victim. Yet, innumerable homeowners become what they’d rather not because of a certain aversion to doing what’s reasonably necessary against it. And so, a couple questions are posed:

• This holiday season, would you prefer learning more about preventing it from being spoiled by a bad hiring decision?
• Or would you prefer not enhancing your awareness, and risk spoiling this special time of the year by making a hiring choice you’ll regret?

However you choose, will you at least connect with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries at your soonest possible convenience to check on the status of the contracting entity or individual contractor before making a final hiring decision?

https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/hiring-a-contractor/verify-contractor-tradesperson-business

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

God Bless You, Your Family, and You Home!