Quality contractors needed at NeighborWorks, in community!

Plumbers, roofers, painters, electricians, carpenters, are you reading today?

In our columns, we tend to address the homeowner. But, after years of talking to homeowners about contractors, today we want to talk to the contractors. (With a few special words to homeowners too.)

In our work at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor County we strive to create safe and affordable housing opportunities for all residents of Grays Harbor.

To do this, we rely on local general contractors, electricians, plumbers, painters and roofers to perform quality repairs and remodels of the housing we own as well as those projects we oversee for others. So today we are offering an opportunity for local contractors.

Becoming an NWGHC contractor

We always welcome quality, licensed, bonded and insured contractors to our approved bidder pool. We promise you one thing up front: We won’t waste your time bidding on jobs which may or may not happen. If we ask you to bid on a job you can generally rest assured that job will be done. Maybe or maybe not by you, but it will be done.

In order to represent both you and our clients best, we carefully research each construction company’s application to review every work-related reference you provide and your financial status with your material suppliers. We also investigate your contractor status through the Labor and Industries website for license and bonding compliance as well as for any legal or financial issues. When possible, we visit any job sites made available on the application.

Your compiled information is then submitted to our Contractor Review committee, currently comprised of a local building official and an architect. The timeframe, from application to being ready to bid a project, can be as little as two days. The actual bidding and contracting steps in our process contain good news and even better news.

The good news is that we thoroughly document each job from start to finish. We try to do this in writing and “on film.” This helps guarantee protection for both sides in the event of a dispute.

The better news is that our contractors and homeowners, entering the sometimes difficult and lawsuit-prone construction arena, will be equipped with some of the best legal protection possible, our written contracts and procedures.

Our process ensures quality work for the homeowner and provides prompt payment for the contractor. In addition, usually contractors are provided weekly checks.

But we think the best news about our process is the clear, written job descriptions and computer-generated design prints.

First, we inspect our projects thoroughly. Then, we develop a detailed “Scope of Work” and easy-to-understand prints from which to bid. All potential bidders are invited to the job site for a “walk-through” and discussion of the work.

Next, we assimilate the returned bids and present them to the homeowner so they can choose a contractor. The homeowner always has final say on their choice of contractor.

We then generate a very comprehensive contract, which includes the scope of work, any prints, additional information, etc. for all to sign.

As the work progresses, we make interim inspections and also attend those required by the local Building Depts. We gather material suppliers’ lien waivers and process any progress payments submitted by the contractor.

We also help to negotiate change orders for unknown additional work, as well as help to keep relations between owners and contractors on an even keel.

Homeowners also benefit from NeighborWorks list

It’s not just quality contractors that benefit from being on our contractor list, our approved list can benefit homeowners too.

As we’ve said in other columns, the best way to get a good contractor is through word-of-mouth references. But, what if you don’t have family or friends who have needed an electrician or a roofer lately?

That’s where we can help. Let us be your neighbor at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor County. We often, while making no specific recommendations, give out names from our list of qualified contractors to homeowners who ask.

After all, we want all the homeowners and contractors in our Grays Harbor neighborhoods to benefit from and share in the pride of quality work.

Contractors: Please give us a call!

So, if you’re a Grays Harbor-area contractor who does quality work and doesn’t mind jumping through some small application hoops, come join us. We would love to have you. Our number is (360) 533-7828. Leave a message if we aren’t there!