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Disclaimer:
This publication is meant to be instructional and to provide information to
assist the consumer in choosing a professional irrigation contractor. The
information in this publication is believed to be accurate at the time of
production. The Irrigation Association and The Carolinas Irrigation Association
assume no responsibility for any damage that arises from any action that is
based on information that is found in this publication. Questions regarding
civil law and the civil courts systems should be addressed to an attorney.
Courtesy
of Carolinas Irrigation Association
©2000 Irrigation Association
Choosing the Right
contractor
Whether you are
searching for a professional irrigation contractor to install a system or to
service an existing system, any professional you consider should have certain
qualifications to do your work. The bottom line is that you are not just
buying an irrigation system, but you are also buying the services of a
contractor. Your job is to find the professional to do the work that will
satisfy you.
Insurance.
Reputable irrigation professionals will carry appropriate insurance policies
to protect you and your property. The insurance policies are critical to your
future. You could lose your home or business if something happens and your
contractor isn't insured. Expect these minimums from a professional irrigation
contractor:
A
general liability insurance policy.
As a general
rule, liability policies should have limits of between **$1
and $2 million for residential work and at least $3 million for commercial
work.** This
insurance helps protect you in case of unforeseen disasters such as flooding,
landslides or other calamities caused by the contractor's work. Again, ask
for a certificate of insurance.
Automobile
insurance.
This provides
another element of liability protection in case one of the contractor's
vehicles is involved in an accident on your property. You may want to ask for
a certificate of insurance.
Certification,
Training, Memberships and Licensing.
A contractor
should readily provide information about professional certifications, training
and required licensing. Licensed and certified professionals are likely to
proudly display evidence of their professional activities. If not, you should
ask. Certification through a reputable institution shows a contractor has
demonstrated basic knowledge and skills required to do a job. Contractors with
Irrigation Association and/or Landscape Ontario certification have taken
training and/or passed exams that demonstrate in-depth knowledge of their
field.
Training.
Contractors
should provide evidence of valid training. Even without certification, you are
looking for evidence that a contractor can do quality work. Training is
offered through professional organizations, like the Irrigation Association
and Landscape Ontario, through equipment manufacturers and colleges or trade
schools. Certification classes are widely recognized in the industry and are
not brand-specific.
Employee
certifications.
The
contractor should offer evidence that individuals in the contractor's
employment have been properly trained in installation and maintenance. Look
for certification appropriate to the work you will have done. The contractor
should be able to assure you that competent, trained individuals will do the
work.
Business
license.
A contractor
must at minimum have a basic business license to work in any municipality.
Other
licenses.
Additional
licenses may be required for irrigation contractors to do basic plumbing and
electrical work required for the job. Check with your municipality for
contractor requirements.
Association
and trade organization membership.
Belonging to a
professional organization implies a commitment to furthering the industry and
keeping up with technological changes and standards for irrigation.
References
and Portfolios
All professional contractors should be expected to prove to you their track
record of accomplishment. Here's what you'll find offered as evidence of
professionalism:
Portfolio
of past work.
You may be shown a portfolio or a professionally produced
brochure that displays the contractor's work.
References.
Expect the contractor to provided references and examples of
completed projects. The names and telephone numbers of references will be
provided for you to call. These property owners should be able to attest to
their satisfaction with the contractor's work within the budget. Ideally, that
budget will be in the same range as your own. In some instances, the
contractor may protect the privacy of some clients by asking them to call you.
In addition, the contractor should be able to arrange for a tour of properties
completed by the contractor. Stopping by a job-in-progress can be informative,
too.
How
Will You Be Inconvenienced?
Plan ahead for inconvenience. Irrigation installation creates change and
activity on your property as well as an efficient system. How will you be
inconvenienced? Will your pet have to be boarded? What will have to be moved
out of the way during construction and for how long? Find out in advance.
Behavior
and Appearance.
How the contractor behaves and appears will be a good indication of how
smoothly and professionally your job will go.
Telephone
etiquette.
Look for contractors who promptly and politely return your calls
and arrive on time for meetings. The professional contractor will be on time
for the first appointment and every appointment thereafter.
Professional
appearance.
The visual image the contractor presents should be appropriate.
Neat, clean and professional appearance indicates pride and professionalism.
Well-maintained
equipment.
The contractor should arrive in a well-maintained vehicle. Often
it will be a truck. Age is not a factor. Pride in appearance is. Look for the
company name and logo and an association logo.
Proposals.
Get a written proposal. A professional contractor will provide a written
proposal. Every aspect of the job should be described in detail, have a dollar
amount attached to it and include warranty terms. The more detailed the
proposal, the better. Remember, the lowest price isn't always the best. You
want to choose the best proposal based on all factors. The proposal should be
broken down into subsections with quantities, sizes and brands specified. All
preparatory and finish work should be included as should the amounts and the
brands of irrigation equipment. Compare proposals point-by-point. Look for a
contractor with the greatest ability to provide outstanding site management
and consistent quality in all phases of the job. Your proposal package should
contain copies of licenses, insurance policies and a list of references.
Request that proposals follow design specifications.
Contracts.
Your contract is a guarantee of professional work and a statement specifying
mutually agreed upon standards. Insist on a written contract for your
protection no matter what the amount. After the contract is signed, any
changes you and the contractor agree to make in the work or materials to be
used must be in writing. This written, "change order" must also
include any additions or reductions in the total job price. Here's a list of
basic elements you'll find in most irrigation contracts:
Specific costs of materials to be installed
Specified start date and an estimated completion date
Statement regarding payments arrangements such as down payment, progress payment
and balance due
The name, street address and telephone number of the contractor
Complete description of the work to be done and materials to be used (including
quantities and brands of irrigation equipment)
Guarantees of work and materials
Statement that the contractor will do any necessary cleanup and removal of
debris after the job is completed
"Notice of Cancellation" informing you that you have ten days after
signing the contract to cancel it.
Validation of any required license and certificates of insurance, not just
copies
Statement that the work will meet the standards specified in the contract
Customer
Service.
Expect to be told that the contractor will want to know about any problems or
concerns today, tomorrow or a year from tomorrow. The contractor you want to
hire will still be here years from now. After-sale service is paramount.
When
the Job's in Progress.
Even though in work clothes, company employees should have pride in their
appearance and their firm. Work crews may be uniformed or easily identifiable
in some other way.
When
the Job's Done.
Expect quality workmanship and a well-organized project from beginning to end.
In addition, a professional will estimate a completion date in such a way that
the project may well be done ahead of the set date. A professional will
compensate for unforeseeable events. Even though in work clothes, company
employees should have pride in their appearance and their firm. Work crews may
be uniformed or easily identifiable in some other way.
When
the Job Finishes.
Expect to be told that your irrigation system is fully guaranteed for parts
and labor for at least 3 full years. The industry standard is one year. The
same language should also be in your contract.
Expect
a final walk-through prior to final payment.
Expect full
instructions on how to care for the system and how to use the mechanical
components of your system such as controllers and timers. Do not expect
seasonal reprogramming of timers or periodic adjustment of nozzles once they
have been properly set and/or adjusted upon job completion unless it's part of
a separate maintenance agreement.
Water
Management.
Water use and management are important issues. More communities are moving
toward rewarding or requiring new irrigation systems to include more
water-wise features. The contractor you hire must be sensitive to the
realities of water in your area. The contractor should know how to manage
water and install an irrigation system that will provide you with the look you
want while minimizing your use of water. Don't settle for a contractor who
isn't top-notch in water management. Rain sensors should be included in all
newly installed systems, not an expensive add-on.
How
to Spot an Unprofessional Contractor.
1. A non-professional won't be listening to your needs.
2. Non-professional telephone communications. Coarse telephone manners and
failing to return calls indicate the type of response you will get on your
project.
3. Failure to show up for meetings on time. Maybe your work won't get done on
time either.
4. Unprofessional appearance. Inappropriate clothing and/or dirty or poorly
maintained vehicles. Even smaller contractors who get out in the field regularly
will take the time to tidy up before an appointment.
5. Disorganized bids that fail to include specific details. Bids should be
legible and easy to understand.
6. Someone who gives you unrealistic prices. If it sounds too good to be true,
it probably is.
7. Belittling another contractor's work. A professional should never belittle
another contractor or his or her work.
8. Offering to do construction work that is outside of the scope of the work for
which the contractor was hired.
Warning
Signs.
Bidding
that fails to meet design specifications.
To cut costs, some
contractors will substitute brands, sizes or quantities that may not conform
to those specified in the design. You may be told this will save you money,
but more often than not it compromises the integrity of the design plan -
something you have already purchased to insure you have a professional
irrigation system. Any deviation from the plans should be clearly identified
as an additive or deductive alternative.
The
sales pitch.
If much of what you
hear from the contractor sounds like a sales pitch for things you don't want
or that don't meet your needs, back off. A true professional will spend more
time listening than selling. The contractor who does the best job listening to
and proposing solutions to your needs is often the contractor to hire.
The
Nice Guy.
Sometimes it seems like an easy choice. You select the contractor
that you think is just a nice guy. Beware of the nice guy if he or she doesn't
meet the criteria for professional operations set forth in this guide. The
real definition of a nice guy is the contractor who provides you with a
quality, professional job for a fair price.
**The
insurance amount was modified to represent your local values.
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