How Not To Get Snookered with Home Improvements

By Bill Primavera

The Home Guru

As this column goes to press, I’m preparing to appear as The Home Guru at the Examiner’s booth at the Home Show at the Westchester County Center, the weekend of October 30 and 31. Because there will be many contractors there offering their services to homeowners, I thought this might be a good time to write about the best way to choose a contractor.

I was reminded of this topic last week while visiting new clients who want to make improvements on their home before listing it. In the course of our discussion, the husband hesitated, then said to me, “We’ve never have a good experience with a contractor. In fact, sometimes, the experience was just terrible and we had no way for getting it right.”  I promised to make some recommendations that I know would work for them in finding reliable home improvement contractors.

Upfront, I’ll say that the contractors who appear at the Home Show are likely to be the best bets in terms of professionalism and reliability. They are established, marketed, and have only their good reputations to keep them in business.

But who among us has not been tempted by the thought that we could pursue a less expensive route by choosing a contractor who is not as well established and marketed? Or worse, may be dishonest?  It happened to me early on when I first moved to the country. I was short of cash but one renovation job just had to be done, specifically the re-construction of the mudroom that was literally falling off our antique house.

Another young couple from the city with whom we were friends had moved to Westchester just before us and had used a contractor they recommended highly for the job. They even escorted him to our house to meet us.  He seemed like the most amiable kind of guy so we agreed on a deal. He asked for a $500 check in advance to “cover the cost of materials,” and I wrote the check without thinking. In those early days, $500 was a lot of money for me. Long story short, the contractor didn’t show on the appointed day, and when I called the number he gave me, I found that it had been disconnected.

Yes, I had been snookered and was miserable about it. And, as human nature would have it, I even felt resentful toward my friends who recommended him!

However, of all the suppliers I’ve used since, I would say that more than 95 percent of them have been honest, talented, and reliable, maybe because I learned after that first experience how to choose them.  But, the roughly five percent who didn’t work out are particularly painful to think about. Nobody likes getting ripped off, especially when it involves a home improvement that you see every day, reminding you of a bad experience.

Sometimes a contractor can be subtle in deceptive practice. For instance, I have interviewed contractors who would only commit to an hourly rate without estimating how many hours a job would take. Beware this open-ended technique for padding the cost for a project.

At the same time, be wary of bids that seem too good to be true. They probably are. Be realistic in your own mind about what a job should cost to get it done well.

Overall, most contractors are hard working and knowledgeable pros who want to do a good job. But, protect yourself from the possibility of disappointment by checking the additional points below:

* Never, no never give cash in advance for materials before any service is provided.

* Ask for referrals from people who have had similar jobs done satisfactorily by a contractor, and ask if you can see the job that was done.

*Ask for at least three proposals and bids, and review them carefully.

*Make sure that you have a written contract with all the details of the job and materials to be used included.

*Check to see that contractors are licensed by the county in which you live. If something goes wrong or if there is a misunderstanding, you have some recourse. Also, ask if there have been any serious complaints against the contractor you want to use.

* Ask if they are insured.

*And finally, remember that this is also a personal relationship you’re entering. If the contractor is qualified but seems surly (yes! it happens), move on to someone with whom you’ll enjoy interacting.

 There was a time when the credo for selecting contractors was simply “buyer beware.” But for more than 20 years, we who live in Westchester or Putnam Counties have had an excellent cushion against fraud in that both counties have established consumer protection programs which require contractors to be licensed. Also the counties serve as arbiters for complaints.

For complete information in Westchester, visit http://consumer.westchestergov.com or call 914-995-2164.   According to John Gaccione, acting director of consumer protection, the county cracks down on unlicensed contractors, enforcing a law that allows the county police to seize the assets of renegade contractors. “We’ve had fewer complaints in the past couple of years,” he said, “in part because of better education for consumers and, perhaps because there is less home renovation work being done in this housing market.”

For Putnam information, visit www.putnamcountyny.com/consumers or call 845-808-1617. Joe LaBarbera, director of the consumer protection department, says that the system works well in licensing contractors and following up complaints. “We’re all about serving the consumer,” he said.

Just in remodeling my own home in the past year, I’ve met and used several contractors that I now consider business friends and would always recommend them. Call me and I’ll pass on the information. Or, if you’re at the Home Show, come visit me at Booth 91. Ask any questions about contractors for renovating your home, and I’ll be happy to supply recommendations.

To know more about the Home Show, visit: http://www.jenksproductions.com/westfall.html.

Bill Primavera is a licensed Realtor® (PrimaveraHomes.com), affiliated with Coldwell Banker, and a marketing practitioner (PrimaveraPR.com). Anyone considering selling or buying a home can reach him directly at 914-522-2076

Window Blinds: Centuries of Practicality, Now Beauty

 By Bill Primavera

The Home Guru

A distant memory from my childhood is the rackety clang of Venetian blinds when my mother would open a window and they would rattle with the wind.

In those days, blinds were made of metal and, whether being raised or lowered, they were noisy.  Slats were at least two inches wide, offered only in plain white, and were hung with wide fabric strips, also white.  They were totally practical and totally ugly. 

Actually I hadn’t thought about blinds in some years.  We don’t face any neighbors from any of our windows so, except for our bedroom facing the road, we have left our windows free from treatment, allowing them to function as originally designed, to let in light and to offer views of the glorious outdoors. The one drawback to open views has been the fading we’ve experienced with some of our  upholstered furniture.

But, then, after having removed some big trees dangerously close to the west side of my house, I found that I was being fried and blinded in my first floor office by the late afternoon sun.  Blinds were definitely needed there to cope with the situation. Actually protection from the sun, rather than privacy, was the original function of blinds and shades when they were fashioned by the Egyptians by stringing together reeds from the Nile and by the Chinese who employed bamboo, still used today in modern shades.

Instead of chancing off-measurements and the embarrassment of a sloppy installation, I treated myself to an at-home consultation by a window treatment expert. As suggested by my home styling consultant Joanne Palumbo, I called Budget Blinds, the largest window treatment franchise in the country. Local representative Jay Diaz stopped by with sample books selected from a conversation he first had with Joanne about my preferences, which I thought was a good idea.

Right off the bat, I broached the subject of price with Diaz, saying that I had heard from others that the name Budget didn’t necessarily mean that selections from the company were less expensive.  Diaz in turn was equally direct. “Indeed, we’re not the least expensive choice, nor do we want to be,” he responded. “Our use of the word ‘budget’ doesn’t mean that we’re cheap. It means that we ask our customers to set a budget and we suggest the kinds of products that can meet it.”

Diaz explained that the advantage of shopping at home for blinds or shades is that the consultant has specific knowledge about the products and can suggest a number of options depending on the placement and materials desired. “And, we handle everything else from start to finish, from measurement of the windows to installation,” Diaz said. “I am able to tell right off if there is an obstacle to overcome, such as a customer wanting inside mounting of blinds that is not accommodated by the depth of the window frame.”

He further explained that besides expertise, shop-at-home service offers time-saving convenience. “Nine times out of ten, when you shop at a storefront, you have to visit the place at least twice. And, if something goes wrong after you’ve installed it yourself, it would be an extra charge to have someone come out and fix it. With us, it’s all included.”

The newest trend in window treatments, according to Diaz, is the insulation factor, reflecting increased interest in energy conservation. “The new honeycomb shades trap air between two layers that keep heat out during the summer and keep it in during the winter,” he said. He further noted that the honeycomb shade is cordless, allowed by a tension system in the head rail.  “Besides being a child safety feature, it is also a matter of aesthetics,” he said. “It looks neater, more finished.”

Another popular choice today is the top-down, bottom-up blinds and shades that can be lowered from the top or be raised from the bottom.

Peering into the future, the next big thing in blinds and shades, according to Diaz, will be motorization. “Actually, it’s here already but will become more popular in the future,” he said.  Oh no, I thought, yet another remote device to fiddle with, besides the TV, the Bose Radio and the ceiling fan.

I first became aware of the long history of blinds when I visited Colonial Williamsburg as a youngster and, in touring the Capitol building, found that its windows featured handsome wooden blinds. The docent told us that blinds were introduced to Europe in the mid 18^th century by Venetian merchants who brought them back from the Orient at that time. Their rapid acceptance and popularity led them to be called by their source of supply, hence the name Venetian blinds.

Since those noisy metal blinds of the 50s with wide slats, we now have mini blinds in an extensive variety of materials, colors and styles. There are real wood and faux wood blinds, woven wood shades, vertical blinds and light filtering fabrics, the honeycomb and pleated shades, and soft Austrian shades. If you feel you’ll have trouble deciding on the option you want, talk to a consultant like Diaz who will know which selections are the best to meet your objectives for privacy, beauty and insulation.

My preference for my own office was a woven wooden shade, which included a plain valence and a lining. While I might have spent $100 per window for a similar shade at a storefront, the cost with Budget Blinds is about $180 each. I consider it well worth the extra $80 per window to have expert advice and to have all the work done for me.

The website for more information is: www.budgetblinds.com, or call Jay Diaz at 914-248-1010.

 Bill Primavera is a licensed Realtor® (PrimaveraHomes.com), affiliated with Coldwell Banker, and a marketing practitioner (PrimaveraPR.com). Anyone considering selling or buying a home can reach him directly at 914-522-2076.

Accidents in the Yard and Garden Can Be Serious

By Bill Primavera

The Home Guru

Something really dramatic happened to me last weekend that could have resulted in this issue’s front page headline announcing, “Home Guru Crushed in Freak Accident in Pool.” The article would have reported that this column would be retired, then go on to pay tribute to my life and work. It would end with a warning to readers that, while most accidents happen at home, they can be particularly dangerous just outside in the garden and yard.

Sound too grocery store, tabloid-oriented to be true?  I ask because recently a reader inquired if all the personal experiences I report in this column really happened, or if I just make them up! Well, I can assure you that this, like all my writing, is only what I know and is true.

Here’s the story.  I was in the deep end of my pool doing my aqua-exercise routine that I had learned years ago at a fancy spa.  Because I was a bit tired that day, having just driven home with my family from Cape May, I decided to wrap up my abdominal twists a bit early. That decision may have saved my life. 

Emerging from the pool, I was heading toward my back door when suddenly I heard the sound of heavy collapse just behind me, followed by an enormous splash. I turned around to see that a major limb from a dead tree near the pool tree had fallen directly into the deep end exactly where my head had been bobbing less than 30 seconds before!

Having heard the earth-shaking crash, my wife Margaret ran out to see what had happened. Even though I was shaken from the incident, I tried to make light of it by telling her, “I see another Home Guru column coming out of this!” 

That old elm, having avoided Dutch Elm disease into maturity, died at least three years ago, and I know I should have taken it down, but it offered a strange beauty in that it had been totally entwined with old wisteria vines that bloomed abundantly each spring. It was probably the wisteria that killed it, but somehow I thought that it would hold the tree up.  Instead, a major part of it was pulled down, nearly crushing me in the process. A lesson learned about sacrificing beauty for safety’s sake.

We all know that most accidents happen in the home, but a great percentage of them happen outside.  I’ve had my fair share of them, from accidentally disturbing a wasps ‘ nest and sustaining multiple stings, to tripping on a vine traveling along the ground (the damned wisteria again) and wrenching my back when I hit the deck.

According to the National Safety Council, there are as many as 33,000 fatalities each year resulting from accidents outside the home and as many as 230,000 serious accidents that require visits to the hospital emergency rooms.

Statistics also show that most outside accidents happen from using tools improperly and that most accidents are related to lawn mowers.

Here are some safety tips for outdoor activity offered by various manufacturers of lawn mowers and other equipment:

Prepare in advance of mowing by walking around the area to remove any objects like sticks, glass, metal, wire, stones and string that could cause injury or damage to equipment. Nails and wire are the most hazardous items that can be thrown by mowers, capable of killing bystanders.

Children should never be in the yard when mowing the lawn and should never ride on the mower. More than 800 children per year are injured by being run over by riding mowers.

Children must be kept totally away from power equipment because many suffer burns to hands and arms when they touch the hot muffler of running engines.

Be sure to know how to operate the equipment, where the controls are and what they do. Just recently I bought a new drill and started operating it before I had read the instructions, only to realize that there were new controls on it that I didn’t know how to operate.  Definitely dangerous.

Dress appropriately for outside jobs. Proper footwear is most important (when I tripped on that vine I was wearing flip-flops and definitely asking for trouble, which I got). Long pants and long sleeved shirts are preferable (and a deterrent to those nasty deer ticks). Eye protection is frequently needed as are heavy gloves, hearing protection and, for women, removal of jewelry, which can get caught in moving parts.

Never work with electric power tools in wet conditions. For protection against being electrocuted, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) should be used. There are both plug-in types and those that are part of some extension cords.

Handle gasoline carefully, remembering never to fill gas tanks while machinery is operating or when equipment is still hot, and do not fuel equipment indoors.

Something that few people think about: hoses left just loosely in various parts of the garden are an invitation for an accident. It’s best to have them stored in a hose reel.

To prevent back injuries, it’s advisable to use a wheelbarrow for heavy stones, but I find the use of a sturdy two-wheeled dolly perfect for moving extremely large rocks from one location to another.

And when using ladders, they should be firmly set or held by a garden helper.

By the way, in case you’re wondering, I didn’t leave the massive limb filling up my pool as a reminder of God’s protection of me, although I considered it. The clean up was aptly handled by my trusty landscape/tree contracting company, Weber Tree Care.  Dan Weber and his associate Mark Picariello were over the very next morning to remove the evidence of such a close call. I find that Weber is always there for emergency service, and I highly recommend their good work, care and price points. The company’s contact number is 914-245-5559.

Now I think I’ll go out and enjoy a nice swim, but not before looking overhead!

 Bill Primavera is a licensed Realtor® (PrimaveraHomes.com), affiliated with Coldwell Banker, and a marketing practitioner (PrimaveraPR.com). He can be emailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or reached directly at 914-522-2076.

How To Get Rid of Uninvited, Annoying Houseguests

 By Bill Primavera

The Home Guru

 During the many years we’ve lived in our home, my family has hosted a number of houseguests who were uninvited, annoying, and sometimes ugly, if not downright stinky.

Naïve as I was when I moved from the city to the country, I thought these critters just hung out in the woods, but no, a number of pests and wildlife has on occasion checked into my home, sometimes in the attic (squirrels), basement (a feral cat)  or crawl space (skunks). Another visitor, a raccoon, perhaps a more outdoorsy type, took a dive into my pool and couldn’t get out.  Sharing space with nuisance wildlife can be scary for a city guy like me.

“People who move here from the city are surprised to find pests and wildlife invading their homes,” says Tom Horton, a nuisance wildlife control operator and owner of Quality Pro Pest & Wildlife Services, serving all of Westchester and Putnam Counties. “Some of them have told me they preferred the city where all they had to worry about were roaches!”

I learned of Horton through recent news reports about coyote attacks in lower Westchester which involved two children and a poodle, the latter being hurt in one attack and killed in the second, possibly by the same coyote.  Horton was successful in trapping and returning to the wild first the mother and her eight cubs, then the male who was probably the attacker.

I always thought that ridding one’s house of nuisance wildlife was more an extermination job, but with Horton, who says he loves animals, it’s more a job of rescue and rehabilitation. His focus is to trap, rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild. While that might be the case with squirrels, skunks and raccoons, it’s a different story with rodents. But even there he is humane. “I don’t believe in using poison,” he said. “Other operators will tell you that when the mice consume poison, they escape the house seeking water, but that is not the case.  They actually remain in the house to die, suffering in agony for four or five days.  I think the more humane way to is to set snap traps where it’s over in an instant.”

Horton said that calls for his work have increased significantly in recent years. But doesn’t increased development make our area less attractive to wildlife, I asked?  Not at all, he responded.  “We have a greater population of former city residents who don’t know how to handle wildlife problems on their own, as they do in the upper counties.” 

When asked what to do if a black bear or coyote is spotted in one’s neighborhood, Horton advised that it’s best to call the police who will respond according to the situation at hand and the town involved. Some towns have their own wildlife control officers, while others suggest calling a professional like Horton, and depending on the animal and threat of danger, the Department of Environmental Conservation might be involved. 

Horton knows a lot about the nature of different kinds of animals. When I related my experience of having a family of skunks living in my crawl space, I asked why it sometimes sounded as though there were violent scuffles going on, as though it was mating time or the male was protecting his turf. But, no, Horton described the skunk as a weasel with a tendency to horse around with other family members.

Why do animals want to come live in our homes in the first place, I asked?  “Animals seek comfort just like we do,” Horton responded. “If a rodent is scurrying along a foundation and feels warmth escaping from a crack in the wall, he’ll be drawn to it and invite himself in.” 

 Horton suggested that homeowners seek a nuisance wildlife operator who actually gets to the source of the problem, being willing to climb ladders and get into crawl spaces, rather than just setting cages outside on the ground, then coming back, charging a fee when something is caught. “How would you know that the offending pest is the animal caught that way?” he reasoned. 

“Exclusion is a big part of our service,” Horton said. “Rather than just setting a trap and removing the offending pests, I suggest securing the points of entry. Most times this is inexpensive, such as when patching a hole, but sometimes it can be a more involved process.”

To become a nuisance wildlife control operator, New York State requires only an eight-hour trapper course, followed by a test. “The best way to learn this business is working as an apprentice in an established company before setting out on your own,” Horton said, which is how he learned his craft.

The majority of his calls for help, especially at this time of year, are for rodents and squirrels, but he has also retrieved some exotic animals, including an African serval and a wallabee, both of which had wandered off the estate and private nature preserve of investor Michael Steinhardt in Bedford.

For a man whose job is to rid animals from homes, his family includes four dogs, one of which is a Jack Russell found just roaming the streets whose owner could not be found, a feral kitten discovered living in a wood pile, and three hamsters that had been left on a park bench.

If you find yourself hosting an unwanted guest, exotic or not, Jim Horton can be reached at 914-469-3855. His website, where you can learn the habits of most nuisance animals, is: www.qualitypropest.com.

Bill Primavera is a licensed Realtor® (PrimaveraHomes.com), affiliated with Coldwell Banker, and a marketing practitioner (PrimaveraPR.com). Anyone seeking advice or considering selling or buying a home can reach him directly at 914-522-2076.