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As many Southern Californians know firsthand, building a new home or renovating an older one can be a rewarding and exhausting experience. We have seen many issues arise when excited homeowners hire a construction team without taking the necessary steps, as outlined below.  No matter how much you trust your Southern California builder, there there are bound to be a few construction defect issues arising here and there. The Skapik Law Group team has put together a must-read list of how to avoid a bad builder or contractor:

1. RESEARCH.  Use the internet to do a background check on your potential builder. Then, get personal and ask for recommendations from those you know and trust. Ask your potential builder for a list of references you can call.
2. READ THE CONTRACT.  Contracts can be confusing and sometimes very important details are snuck in in small print. It is very important that you read the contract carefully and completely understand its terms. Is it a flat fee contract or a cost-plus contract? What work is included and what is considered an upgrade?  Is your builder offering a warranty for his work?  An experienced construction defect lawyer can read over the contract for you and make sure you are protected.
3. DON’T PAY TOO MUCH UP-FRONT.  You don’t want to the builder to walk off the job after the hard part is done, but work still remains; especially if you’ve paid a lot of money up front.  You need to make sure that the negotiated payments provide an incentive for the contractor to stay on your job.
4. HIRE AN INSPECTOR.  An extra charge that is worth it to make sure your house is being built properly, an instructor will put you at ease knowing that your home is being built the right way.
5. MAKE SURE THE CONTRACTOR IS PAYING THE SUBCONTRACTORS.  You don’t want to potentially be held responsible for your contractor’s debts.