Select contractor with accessibility experience
Tips from the Field
Select contractor with accessibility experience
Not all contractors understand the special needs of the elderly or disabled. When it comes to helping a client select a contractor to make accessibility modifications, it pays to go with experience, says Bill Paglia Scheff, vice president of construction services for the nonprofit Corporation for Independent Living in Wethersfield, CT, and general contractor for its Home for Living service.
Here are his tips for selecting a contractor who can assess your client’s needs:
o Choose experience over cost.
"Initially, people are concerned with price," says Paglia Scheff. "When evaluating competing quotes for a job, homeowners should keep in mind that they are paying for expertise, not just construction."
He works with clients to gain a complete understanding of their needs. "I had one man who asked me for a quote on widening the door to his bathroom so that he could get into the shower area with his wheelchair," he recalls.
"Before I gave him an estimate on widening the door, I took the door off the hinges to see if that would enable the man to pass through the entryway. Then I assisted him shifting from his wheelchair to his shower chair. His wife told me no one had ever taken her husband through that routine before to see if he could actually complete the transfer.
"I have no problem asking a client to sit on the toilet, if that’s an issue they have trouble with. The contractor has to spend time with the client watching activities of daily living before making decisions about the best modification to improve the client’s quality of life. Sometimes the solutions become very detailed like lowering a bar by two inches."
o Look for more than one answer.
"Choose the contractor who proposes options that other contractors may not be aware of," he says. "Make sure the contractor also offers more than one possible solution to your specific needs."
• Ask for references.
Make sure the contractor you choose is legitimate, he suggests. "Find out how long the company has been in business and has successfully dealt with accessibility issues. Ask for names and phone numbers of previous customers, and take the time to call them," he adds.
Clients should ask contractors for pictures of their past projects or, if possible, they should visit the homes in person. "Visiting a modified home is the best way to visualize and approximate the work that’s going to be done." In addition, many accessibility contractors now list themselves by specialty in their local yellow pages, he says, adding that the National Association of Home Builders in Washington, DC, is also a good resource for finding reputable local builders with accessibility experience, he says. To contact the association, call (202) 822-0200.
• Expect customer service.
Ask all contractors who bid on the job what type of warranty they offer. "A quality contractor will stand behind the work. Homes for Living offers a five-year warranty on all work."
• Consider the aesthetics of the design.
"Modifications for accessibility don’t have to look institutional or create an eyesore," he says. "People have the impression that modifications, such as entrance ramps, must become a monstrosity that doesn’t fit in. Choose the contractor that pays attention to blending the ramp into the landscape, rather than just slapping one onto the front of a house."
• Determine if time is a factor.
"In some cases, a client can’t come back into the home until the modifications are complete, so a contractor’s ability to get an experienced crew on the construction site quickly is critical from the homeowner’s perspective."
Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.