Accessibility and Assistive Technology
How to Find a Contractor
Last Updated:
Not all contractors are trained or skilled in making accessibility modifications. A personal referral is the best way to find a contractor who understands both the accessibility needs of the individual in the home and building code requirements. Talk to people who have had modifications done to their homes. Ask who did their work. Also get names of contractors from organizations such as rehabilitation hospitals and independent living centers. They may know of contractors who have done work at their facility or for some of their clients.
After locating a remodeling contractor, ask for references and follow up with them. If possible, look at their work and ask: is it of good quality? Is it attractive? Is it functional? Find out if the contractor listened and responded to the needs of the homeowners. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints about the contractor.
Contractors who do accessibility work for commercial projects must build according to certain legal codes spelled out by the American Disabilities Act. (ADA). However, accessibility modifications in a home do not have to meet the same building code requirements as commercial construction. Many home modifications can be tailor-made to meet the individual need of the person with brain injury and still be safe and functional. But the guidelines of the ADA are helpful as a standard. These can be accessed through the ADA website.
Contractors and subcontractors, who do any major jobs, need to have proper liability and workers compensation insurance. Ask for a certificate of liability and worker’s compensation insurance with the amount of coverage. Be sure it states the name of the insurance company, amount of coverage, dates of coverage. Also, the contractor’s policy number(s) should be written on any final contract.
Get written estimates from several contractors to compare costs.
The contractor who is chosen for the work will need to provide a contract that covers the terms of the work to be done. It needs to include:
1. A payment plan/agreement
2. Price (or price range if some flexibility is needed)
3. A start and stop date
4. Specifications regarding all appliances, fixtures and materials to be used
5. A clause stating contractor is responsible to obtain all required permits
6. A clause stating contractor is responsible for clean up
7. A “reliability release” (This stops a subcontractor or business from making a claim on your property because the contractor has not paid them.)
8. A certificate of insurance for both liability and worker’s comp insurance. (Ask for the insurance company name and the contractor’s policy number to be written into the contract.)
Be sure to understand and agree with all the terms of the contract before signing.
If it is a large job, it might be wise to hire a lawyer to help with negotiations and review the contract. Any changes in the agreement should be made in writing. For very small projects a deposit of 50% might be required with the balance paid at the time the project is completed. With medium jobs, 1/3 up front, 1/3 midway with the final payment after final inspection. On big projects there might be a 10 – 15% deposit with several payments made during the job after completion of various stages of the work. In principle, the contractor will need funds to pay for materials up front but most of the labor cost is being paid upon completion.
Keep in mind that if payment is made before all the work is completed, it may not be worthwhile for the contractor to finish the job. The best way to assure a positive result is to stay involved in the process. Insist that the contractor incorporate all the details of the modification plan. If there are problems, point them out and make sure they are fixed before making final payment.
National Association of the Remodeling Industry – under Homeowner’s Guide find remodeling and contractor information, tips and guidance. Excellent resource including warning signs for alerting families to potential problems.
Hot Link to ADA document center
Pat Daviou has been an occupational therapist for 29 years. She works in the Assistive Technology Center at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. As part of a home evaluation team which also includes design professionals, she is involved in home evaluations for clients with various disabilities.