Here's to the crazy ones...

Constantin

.... and hope that you can all pitch in for another "On the Job" or Library piece. Namely, how <em>does</em> a consumer best screen a contractor? I know all the traditional means like checking references, the BBB, the court house, etc. but what if we could come up with perhaps 10 questions and answers by heating system type (one-pipe steam, vapor, hot water, etc.) that we can hand out to consumers?

Think of these as first-level screening test with unambiguous answers that we hold to be the unmovable truth. Things like insurance and bonding, pumping away, heat loss calculations, combustion testing, etc... This could be part of our effort to reduce the influence of hacks on this industry by weeding them out before they can harm a homeowner...

Consumers wouldn't just get it here, I think it should be available to the entire HH community to hand out as part of a quote... raise the bar not only with the consumers that know enough to show up here and educate themselves, but to work pro-actively to better the industry as part of the job. Thus, if possible, questions shouldn't just be designed to test the mettle of contractors because they may get a copy and parrot the answer...

Tell me what you think of this idea, and if you like it, post some questions and answers. This may yet become an interesting idea...

Weezbo

last night before going to rest i had scathingly brilliant idea

how about a game...everyone would give an answer,nothing formal,all t shirt an denium kinda game.it could go on indefintitely....every so often we would start a new topic.only one answer. like this...Why not to exchange out boilers based upon what is being taken out.....(a)O- for oil ,N-for gas,E forelectricity,C -for coal ,W- for wood , like that....everyone gets to give an answer and ponder on what the others have said...no real Prize of a game.i think it would open up some consideration into other aspects in suggestions we make to the home owners business owners General Contractors ...and the other professional individuals with whom we work....