We had a door-to-door salesman come by and quote us a price for continuous guttering, gutter guards, vinyl soffit, and fascia.

The house is about 160 linear ft. in an L type shape. We have 5 downspouts to replace. The overhang is 24" wide.

The quote was for $4800. He quoted for Alcoa brand with the Leaf Relief forthe gutters. The product grade was the premium grade (if I remember right). I am in W Ky.

ETA: We have a brick house, and the overhang is currently wood that is in need of painting.

Thanks

 

Always get at least three bids from licensed and insured contractors. Ask for a copy of license and insurance. Call appropriate agencies to make sure they are current. Liability insurance covers you in case they damage your home. Worker's compensation covers workers injured on your property. Homeowner's insurance will not.

After three bids you should get a feel for a fair price. Cost of materials and labor vary from area to area and among gutter companies. Be sure that the bids are based on the same specifications, materials, labor, and time frame. Do not automatically choose the lowest bid. Identify the reasons why one bid may be lower than another. Ask for local references and inspect completed projects if possible. Do not make final payment until you are satisfied.

A professional will present a contract and all promises and agreements are in writing. This protects you and the contractor. The work should be described and start and finish dates on the contract. There should be a breakdown of costs, the payment schedule (how much down, interim payments, with final payment not paid until you are satisfied). The contract should contain warranty info on labor and materials. It should also include clean up of the job site. The contract should also contain the contractor's full name, address, telephone number, and professional contractor's license number.

There should be a a release-of-lien clause to protect you from liens against your home in the event that the contractor does not pay the suppliers or any subcontractors. Any warranty offered by the contractor should be in writing and detail all conditions and terms. Read everything before you sign a contract. Do not sign an incomplete or blank contract.

Some areas require building permits for gutters. Permit should be in contractor's name in order to relieve you from liability for any corrections that do not pass inspection (if required). The issue of any required permits should also be addressed in the contract.

Door to door salesman. Hmmm? Lots of roofing/gutter repair and paving company scams going on. Be wise. Substandard materials, shoddy workmanshiip, under pricing, and over pricing are common. Scammers move from area to area. They especially love to move into areas where natural disasters occur. Senior citizens make easy targets.

 

Saw your duplicate post in another forum where it has been deleted. The post did include "Prestige Remodeling Co." in Evansville, IN. I went to the Indiana Secretary of State's website, and no corporation by that name is registered in Indiana.

Did find when Googled: In Business Since: 2001 Prestige Remodeling is a family owned company that believes there are two business models that succeed, the cheapest and the best; we will not be the cheapest. Based out of Steger, Illinois.

If the same company, it appears they are subcontractors for ServiceMagic. No state license required if working under ServiceMagic's license. ServiceMagic appears to be a broker of subcontractors.

You can Google, too, for "Prestige Remodeling + Evansville, IN." Online testimonials are just that. Be wise. Be an informed shopper.

 

The door card that he first gave us was listed as "Prestige Remodeling Co." in Booneville, In. Then, the contract stated as a header "Burton's Prestige Remodelers" out of Evensville, In.

The door card also stated that they had been in business since 1963. But, when I BBB the contract name, it says that it has been in business since 1970's. The company isn't a member of the BBB, just has a listing.

I don't know if Burton's is the main guy that runs the actual store front and the one soliciting has his own crew for the soliciting part, or if the solicitor is using a searchable name and scamming people, or what.

I did get a second estimate today. The guys stated the guters would have to be through another person, but he did the soffit and fascia at $2.35 per linear foot for materials, and his labor would be around $800 (If I understood him right....my husband will know). That (again, if I am right) should come out to about $1900. Will gutters be $3000 for 160 lin ft?

Thank you for your reply. It helps greatly!!

Part of what is bothering me about the contract is the different names, the fact that he didn't name the actual materials he is using, and the similar.

Also, I think hubby signed the loan papers and they weren't completed.

Perhaps hubby could call the guy back under the premise that we are considering doing the windows (we told him we were on the fence about it) and once he is here, get our paperwork back?

I know KY has a "three day cooling off" period when you can cancel contracts. So, tomorrow would be the 3rd day. Perhaps we could get the contract destroyed in front of us since he has to go by Ky's conract laws, right?

 

I'm in KY, too. You are not in Indiana? Hmmm?

$2.35 x 160 + $800 labor comes to $1176. Math is my weakest subject and I have a cheap calculator.

Oops! "Part of what is bothering me about the contract is the different names, the fact that he didn't name the actual materials he is using, and the similar. Also, I think hubby signed the loan papers and they weren't completed." Who's the lender? The gutter company? Hmmm?? Interest rate? Terms??? Oops!

Stop everything. Never be impulsive. Always research, explore options, and talk with others. Cool off. Do more research. If you are that desperate for new gutters and downspouts, talk with your local loan officer at your bank. I love my loan officer. Too bad he's about 30 years younger than I and married. He fusses over me like a mother hen. If you have a mortgage, you and your lender are business partners. If you have a loan, you should always consult with your loan officer because you guys are in business together.

 

The real sign of their validity is if they require ANY money up front. If they require ANY money up front they most likely are going to give you trouble. Leaf relief is a real low end debris protection. You will be dissapointed with door to door ESPECIALLY since there are local established contractors available.