Estate Management Tips: How to Interview Contractors
There will always come a time when you will need to hire someone: a plumber, assistant, gardener, nanny, pool cleaner. Hiring contractors must always be handled delicately, especially if you need to interview them at your employer’s house.
While I was on assignment with the Royal Saudi Family, one of the new security agents took it upon himself to call someone to try and fix the very high-end stereo that was inside the mansion that we were renting. Ideally, they should have spoken with me, but that didn’t happen.
Because the equipment was so specialized (and worth about $100,000), a particular kind of technician should have been called. If the security agent asked me about it, I could have gone straight to my House Bible (i.e., house manual), but things worsened.
The security agent did not ask the technician that he called the appropriate questions. In short, the technician needed to be qualified to work on the equipment. All of the components were pulled from the wall and damaged in the process, internally and externally. Because the house was being rented, my boss lost his $50,000 deposit and was sued by the homeowner.
While I was on assignment with the Royal Saudi Family, one of the new security agents took it upon himself to call someone to try and fix the very high-end stereo that was inside the mansion that we were renting. Ideally, they should have spoken with me, but that didn’t happen.
Because the equipment was so specialized (and worth about $100,000), a particular kind of technician should have been called. If the security agent asked me about it, I could have gone straight to my House Bible (i.e., house manual), but things worsened.
The security agent did not ask the technician that he called the appropriate questions. In short, the technician needed to be qualified to work on the equipment. All of the components were pulled from the wall and damaged in the process, internally and externally. Because the house was being rented, my boss lost his $50,000 deposit and was sued by the homeowner.
If you have to hire an independent contractor to complete a task, take the following steps
(this list is by no means exhaustive and is only a guide):
There is no need to be "polite" and take their word for it. As the old saying goes, "trust but verify."
- Make sure they have the qualifications needed to accomplish the tasks at hand.
- Ask them how long they have worked in their field and current position.
- Ensure they have appropriate licenses, certifications, bonding, and/or insurance. Call to verify the information they gave you is true and accurate. The insurance, for example, may have lapsed.
- Don’t be afraid to ask them to explain in detail how they will be doing their work. Get more information if you don’t understand any part of the process. As long as you’re polite with them, they shouldn’t have any issue with your inquiry. If they are short-tempered and don’t feel like explaining their work to you, it’s probably a good sign that you should get someone else.
- Get everything in writing! No detail is too small. Know how long the job will take and how much it will cost. Ensure the contract has stipulations addressing the issue of what will happen if they run over on time or budget.
There is no need to be "polite" and take their word for it. As the old saying goes, "trust but verify."
