In today’s world, a handshake and a promise does not always mean much. We hear story after story of our clients hiring contractors that do not show up or do not complete the job they said they would. While bad people can be found in any job, we acknowledge that the construction industry seems to be one of their favorite places to hang out.
Although we at Norde Excavation & Land Management pride ourselves in being reliable and trustworthy just because it is the right thing to do, we ALSO provide many layers of protection for our clients so that there is NEVER an issue.
Below are 6 ways we protect YOU (the client) in your next project-
Contractors License
We at Norde Excavation & Land Management hold and maintain a general contractors license, and display our license number in commonly seen places like our website, business cards, social media, etc.
It is always important to use a licensed contractor because you are able to take advantage of our state’s dispute resolution program and any state funds available to help resolve disputes and compensate property owners.
Also, If a contractor is found non-compliant by the state, or found responsible for not completing the work they collected payment for, their license can be suspended or even revoked.
Once licensed, the contractor is bound to comply with state building procedures and standards. If a property owner hires a contractor that is not licensed, they may not be protected by state policies. There is often very little that can be done if an unlicensed contractor disappears from a partially completed job or does a job incorrectly.
Anyone can visit the Department of Labor & Industries website and verify a contractor by name, license number, workers’ comp account, or UBI number. This search will tell you if their license, bond, and insurance premiums are current, if they have any safety violations or citations, and allow you to track a contractor.
Bonding
Contractors licensed in Washington State must be bonded. A bond is essentially a pre-paid savings account with a bank or insurance company that sets money aside in the event a project is not completed according to the contract. This bond or agreement, binds the contractor to the contract with the property owner. If the work is not completed according to the contract the bond will cover any expenses (up to the bond amount) required to complete the job satisfactorily. General contractors are required to hold a $12,000 bond and specialty contractors a $6,000 bond.
Insurance
Licensed contractors in Washington State must also carry general liability insurance. Minimum requirements include $50,000 in property damage and $200,000 in public liability, or a $250,000 combined single limit policy.
Damage to persons or property due to contractor negligence may be covered by this policy. In some cases, the property owner could be held liable for personal injury if the contractor does not have insurance
Contractual Agreements
Along with every delivered bid, our clients will find a detailed and thorough contract. Within the contract they will find
- 22 clauses protecting both the client and us as a company, and setting clear expectations on hot button topics like payments, scopes of work, and working hours.
- A refund and cancellation policy
- A disclosure statement directly from LNI informing our clients of their rights to payment, and protection
- Legally binding signatures
Although it is all completed electronically, we use a legally binding software that allows the contract to be upheld in the court of law. Meaning it is legally legit and ready to serve in your protection.
Payment Schedule
We will NEVER ask you for full payment upfront. We collect ⅓ of the fee to book your date, ⅓ of the fee at the project start date, and ⅓ of the fee on the project end date. These payments are lined out with exact dates within the contract so there are no surprises, and we also offer auto-pay for your convenience. Our hope is, that you have confidence knowing that all of your money is not tied up before you see any results.
Sub-Contractor Relationships
There are times that we need to subcontract out a part of our clients job to ensure it is done correctly. Examples of this may be concrete work, or large tree falls. We vet and build relationships with every subcontractor we use to ensure only the best is provided for our clients.
We at Norde Excavation & Land Management pride ourselves in re-writing the construction industry norm. We want our clients to feel safe in hiring us for their excavation needs! We are ready to serve you in your next project, Spokane County!
