Survey Probes Rocky Relations Between Homeowners And Contractors

(HIT) - The fall home improvement season will soon be upon us, ushering in the next installment in the ongoing soap opera that homeowners might refer to as "Contractors of Our Lives."

Few business relationships evoke such intense emotions as the homeowner-contractor bond. So for the third time since 2004, the Kimberly-Clark Professional DIY Business has examined this tempestuous relationship, and in the process discovered some strange behaviors:

• Contractors taking naps in the home
• Contractors who asked homeowners on a date
• Homeowners who wouldn’t hire a contractor because of germophobia

Overall, the survey revealed a broad range of opinions. While many respondents were highly satisfied with their contractors, others complained about jobs taking too long to complete or coming in over budget.

The top concern when it comes to the mess created by home improvement contractors was dust that gets in the air and settles all over the place. That may explain why 27 percent of respondents to another question said they wished contractors would do a few simple things to protect their homes, such as wearing shoe mitts, putting down drop cloths or containing the work area with plastic.

Kimberly-Clark Professional offers a number of products to address these concerns, including versatile, heavy-duty drop cloths that protect carpet, furniture and floors when remodeling, painting or wall papering. Kimberly-Clark Professional also offers shoe covers to protect floors and keep homes clean during home improvement tasks, painting projects, and even open houses.

Make Yourself at Home

When homeowners were asked to choose from a list of unusual activities that contractors had done in their homes, the top selection was being asked to assist with the work (14 percent). Seven percent said contractors had suggested they get together socially, and three percent reported being asked on a date by a contractor. Four percent reported that contractors had either taken food or drink without asking or cooked a meal in the kitchen. Two percent said contractors had taken naps on beds or couches or used personal computers.

What about those worst contractor nightmares that everyone seems to talk about?

• Forty-six percent said it was the contractor who takes much longer than promised to complete a job.
• Thirty percent selected the contractor who broke one thing while fixing another.
• A third-place tie, at 20 percent, went to: contractors who quote one price and then increase it significantly during the job, and contractors who take the money and run – without completing the work.

On another topic – job site cleanliness – opinions were mixed. Thirty-five percent said contractors had generally done a good job protecting their homes and leaving them clean and tidy, while 12 percent said contractors usually left a mess and expected customers to clean up when the job was finished.

One solution for this is for contractors to use tools that make cleanup faster and more efficient. Kimberly-Clark Professional Rags and Cleaning Towels are one option for both homeowners and contractors. Scott Rags are strong, durable, and absorbent and ideal for wiping up spills or for tasks such as staining, and refinishing furniture. Kimberly-Clark Professional also offers Contractor Rags, which are designed to clean up after the most demanding home improvement tasks, such as those involving cleaning oil, grease, liquids and solvents.

Men vs. Women: Who Chooses the Contractor?

Who decides which contractor to hire: men or women? Fifty-six percent of respondents reported that male and female household members jointly decided who to hire for a home improvement job. Twenty-three percent said the decision maker was male, while 18 percent answered female.

The survey also probed how contractor hiring decisions were made. The overwhelming choice, at 70 percent, was a recommendation from someone they trusted. After that, decisions were based on a feeling that the contractor could be trusted with the home and its possessions (16 percent). A good price came in third, at 10 percent.

Lastly, the stories about contractors not returning phone calls are legendary. But the survey results don’t bear this out. While more than half of respondents reported problems with return calls, the vast majority said this pertained to very few contractors. Forty percent of respondents said that virtually every contractor had in fact called them back.

For more information about the Kimberly-Clark Professional DIY Business and its products, visit www.kcdiy.com.

Survey Methodology

The national telephone survey of 333 male and female adults over the age of 18 who had a contractor of any kind do work in their home within the last few years was conducted by telephone by Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of the Kimberly-Clark Professional DIY Business. It was undertaken from January 24-27, 2008. The margin of error for the survey is plus or minus 5 percent. The full survey results can be found at http://www.kcdiy.com/diy/resource_center/Recent-News.asp.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark Professional, located in Roswell, Ga., is one of four global business segments of Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB). The K-C Professional DIY business provides professional solutions for home improvement and car care projects to make fixing up and cleaning up fast, easy and efficient. For more information about these products, visit www.kcdiy.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center