While this blog post is the shortest in this four-part series, it is likely one of the most important. So often what is said and what a person hears can prove to be quite different. This is where you confirm all of your understandings as to what the shop will do with your restoration and their responsibility. All promises are put down on paper so that there are no misunderstandings as to what you are getting.
If you have not already had a chance to read the first two posts in this series, we encourage you to go back and start at the beginning with Part I – Research and Part II – A Visit to the Shop.
A handshake is important but having it in writing is essential!
Shop Paperwork
When you have chosen your restoration shop, get a written estimate for the labor, materials and parts required for the project, but remember that estimates are subject to change. It is difficult to figure an exact price on any restoration. I will have a general idea of what it will cost, but even my best guesses are often low. You have to be prepared to spend more money. Depending on the situation, a car’s restoration may end up costing many times its value. A shop that specializes in your car may charge a flat rate, with a clause for extra charges due to unforeseen additional work, while a general restorer may charge for labor, materials and parts separately. A deposit is often required to secure services and begin the parts ordering process.
Be aware that better restoration shops will often have substantial waiting lists, ranging from months to years.
Any good restoration shop will be booked for at least a year. If you can get into a shop right away, you should question the quality of its work. Some waiting lists are between three and four years; as soon as the shop finishes a car, another one rolls in. Most larger shops usually have five cars in the shop at any one time, and full-blown restorations can take a year or more. There is so much down-time… such as letting primer set for 30 days before sanding it for paint.
Once a restoration begins, most good restorers want to remain in touch with the car’s owner to allow progress updates as well as to keep them abreast of potential financial issues. If the shop you have chosen is not within reasonable driving distance, be sure to ask for detailed photographs on a regular basis. It is wise to require photos to be included with any requests for a progress payment to ensure the work has been performed as described.
Time to Choose
After you have narrowed your choices and are ready to commit to a particular shop, do a brief background check to ascertain if that shop has a history of problems. This does not take much time or effort and can save you a lot of heartache. Begin by calling the governmental agencies that regulate the business you are going to use. In many states, restoration shops fall under the regulatory jurisdiction of the state department of motor vehicles and the county department of consumer affairs. In addition, most are under the jurisdiction of the federal EPA and state and county environmental regulatory agencies as well. Simply call up the appropriate agencies and ask if there have been any problems with “so and so.” A complaint or two does not necessarily mean you should eliminate the shop from your list. What you are looking for is a pattern of serious, unresolved problems or violations.
Another good indication of a business owner’s past behavior is his record of legal problems. Has he repeatedly been sued by his customers for breach of contract, fraud, stealing? Records for these types of legal proceedings are maintained in the county clerk’s office or the courthouse where the business is located. Records are available to the public and can be accessed using the name of the business and/or the name of the business owner.
A few hours of research can save you years of anguish if the person you were about to entrust with your car and half your life savings turns out to be a con artist. Alternatively, you will gain additional peace of mind if he has no problems with the government or the legal system.
Doing Business
An especially important thing to remember when doing business with a restoration shop or subcontractor is to put your agreement in writing before any money changes hands and before any work begins.
Verbal contracts or agreements are essentially worthless if problems develop after work has begun. Without some type of a written agreement, the specifications of an oral contract usually boil down to one person’s word against another person’s word. Since in a dispute each party is equally convinced – or at least pretends to be convinced – of the correctness of his position, the end result is normally an endless and bitter argument that does not lend itself to an easy resolution. Insist upon a written contract up front when you have a shop perform work for you.
A written contract need not be a long, complicated document that looks like it was written by a small army of lawyers. The length and complexity should be kept to a minimum, but at the same time it should spell out exactly what each side is supposed to provide to the other. Obviously, if you are turning an entire car over to a shop for a complete restoration, the contract for that will be fairly long. On the other hand, if you are giving your windshield wiper motor to someone for a rebuild, the contract for that can be covered with two or three sentences. (The list of items to be covered by a contract we will discuss in the future.)
Though it is also in their best interest to commit the agreement to writing, some shops will be unhappy about providing a written contract. If the shop owner objects because of the time it takes to write the contract, you can offer to write it. If the shop owner simply refuses to sign a contract under any circumstances, I strongly recommend that you take your business elsewhere.
