"Yank_fan_2965" wrote in message
oups.com...
Quick question. I am going to remodel my attic. I have yet to install
the knee walls and the framing necessary prior to the installation of
the electrical components. I want to get a firm quote on the electrical
before I proceed with the framing. I got an estimate from an
electirician to do all of the electrical, bring addn'l lines up from
the basement etc. Several days after he visited my home he gave me a
verbal estimate of the total cost over the phone. No real details were
included. I then asked him to provide me with a written estimate. He
declined. He said he wanted to wait until he was ready to start the
job. I feel that he should be able to provide a written estimate of the
costs now. Am I being unreasonable?

Thanks


A "contract" is made of two elements.

Offer and acceptance.

The contractor (and make SURE he is a contractor) OFFERS to do the work for
a price.

The owner ACCEPTS the offer, and they have a CONTRACT.

If there is no written offer, there can be no contract. Verbal agreements
are worth the paper they're written on. They are enforceable, but only if
you 're lucky, and if you DO win, you don't have much of a chance of relief.

You should ask your "contractor" to have their insurance company (ies) send
you documentation of worker's compensation coverage, liability coverage, and
surety bond.

If they don't do this, they aren't a contractor. Or not a good contractor.
You may be the general, or owner contractor on the job, and be allowed to
hire subs that don't have a contractor's license, but it CAN get complicated
from there. Laws vary from state to state.

Bottom line, if you want to be more sure that it's done and done right, hire
a contractor. I said more sure, because there isn't any guarantee that you
won't have problems with a licensed contractor. But you are less likely to.
With subs and unlicensed contractors, it can turn into the attic job from
hell.

I would say if this person won't put it in writing, they're not a
contractor. Be wary hiring them. Buy all materials yourself and save
money. NEVER, repeat NEVER, let them get ahead of you in the amount of
money paid versus the amount of work done.

Contracting without a license (even giving an estimate to do work) is a
felony in my state, and they have FINALLY started enforcing it on these
boobs.

Steve