Ep.117 Avoiding Contractor Nightmares with Steve Noviello, Investigative Journalist

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Steve Noviello, an 11x Emmy Award-winning journalist known for consumer investigation, money-saving advice, bargain hunting, and product reviews and anchor of DFW Fox4 News, talks to Frank about how to vet contractors. They provide several tips to help protect both the pool owner and the pool professional from being ripped off. Following these tips will help ensure a satisfactory outcome with your pool projects.

The Deep End Pool Podcast focuses on residential pool maintenance and may not cover commercial pool requirements. Please consult the CDC and your local authorities and code requirements for commercial pool maintenance.

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00:00 Intro

09:45 Introducing Steve Noviello. Facebook group "DFW Pool Owner Group". many victims of a single pool builder.

13:00 Steve discusses how emotion and logic cannot exist simultaneously. Don't overlook red flags because they appeal to your emotional side. Recovering losses is difficult.

14:30 Research your contractor before you hire. Cities in Texas will continue to issue permits regardless of complaints.

15:30 Dig deeper into reputation management in reviews.

21:20 Poor communication, scheduling issues, and getting the obvious run around should be red flags.

21:55 See and record the driver's licenses of contractors if no applicable business license is required.

23:20 Never pay in full before the job is complete.

24:10 Be mindful of contractors time and work pre-contract. \

25:50 Ask to hold back a final payment until the final punch list is completed.

27:00 Be careful with baseline pricing in contract. Avoid surprise costs.

29:40 Read your contract. Ask questions. Ask for explanations, and do not accept unreasonable clauses in a contract.

30:00 Take notes in construction meetings and have the contractor initial your notes. Memorialize conversations.

32:50 If you have been victimized, do not allow it to destroy your family. It is very stressful when victimized, but don't let it ruin your life. Seek counseling.

33:40 Typically, the salesperson will not be doing the work. Meet subcontractors on the job before the work begins. Don't rush the project.

36:40 Set reasonable expectations.

37:20 Research the owners and managers of the contractor, not just the company name.

38:45 Client references.

39:20 Understand and communicate variations in materials.

44:00 Concrete poured later will not match.

45:30 References should also include less recent builds. What does a post-relationship look like?

48:50 Ask to have verification subcontractors were paid on previous draws.

50:50 Be cautious of signs of financial instability.

51:45 Understand warranties.

54:10 Make peace with the price you've agreed to.

55:10 Avoid future issues by utilizing mitigation processes.

59:00 Do your research on products and processes.

1:00:00 Research resources.

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