elcome to the Consumer Section of Brick2Brick.com. This section is specifically designed for consumers.

It’s common knowledge that Ex-cons and fugitives have been using the construction industry like an underground railroad. (The FBI estimates that there are as many as 1 sexual predator for every square mile in the U.S.) The pay is pretty good with few if any questions asked. While I am a staunch believer in second chances, I feel just as strong that if a contractor chooses to hire an ex offender it is that contractors responsibility to insure the safety and security of his/her customers. That responsibility includes insuring that the employee is in complete compliance with any and all conditions of his probation/parole. If the employee is a convicted felon I don’t want him in my house unsupervised. If he/she is a convicted sex offender I don’t want them on my property, not to clear my drains or rake my leaves, and as a consumer you have every right to know who the contractor is sending to your home.

 

My name is Charles S. Marion and I am an African American, Disabled Veteran and hold a General Contractor’s license, a Plumbing contractors license, and a a degree in electronics. I also have over $1,000,000.00 in liability insurance and hundreds of happy customers. Yet while all that sounds great, none of that proves that I am competent in building a house, running a business or managing employees. Consumers are warned to get multiple quotes, check the license, and references, in the hopes that this information will lead to an informed decision in the hiring of a contractor. The reality is this information tells little about the contractor or his/her operation, skill level, or employees.

 The truth is every contractor has a handful of “satisfied” customers, the neighbor, the relative, in-law or friend. But every contractor also has a customer or two, whom no matter what, was not going to be happy with the work, the crew, schedule, or their own bad choices. A key piece in choosing a contractor is; how did he/she resolve the issue with that customer? The answer to this question is all to often overlooked buy home owners along with many other key bits of information;

•  The contractor has insurance, but does the policy cover the work I need them to do on my home?

• He’s been in business for 20 years. Great! What experience does the employee who is actually doing the work have performing the tasks?

• Has he worked in your state before?

• Is he wanted in another state? What about the employee sent to your home?

• If something goes wrong how can you reach the contractor?

• Does he/she pay his employees a fair wage? on time?

 These are just a few of the many questions that need to be answered before putting your largest investment in the hands of a stranger.

Consumers, whether home owner, General Contractor, or government official, must take more responsibility for the outcome of these relationships. www.brick2brick.com provides the necessary resources to meet that responsibility. But it is up to you to make it work. By demanding that any contractor who sets foot in your home or business be B.R.I.C.K. CERTIFIED!

Purpose

The goal of B.R.I.C.K LLC is not intended to prohibit, disqualify, restrict or do away with any licensed contractors, to the contrary, the purpose of the screening process is to aid the contractor in identifying those areas needing improvement and providing the resources necessary to affect positive changes in the way they do business.

Secondly the B.R.I.C.K. CERTIFICATION let’s consumers know that each contractor is making their best effort to provide the highest level of skill, performance and service to the consumer, providing them with the resources to make better informed decisions about the contractors who enter their homes or businesses..

B.R.I.C.K. CERTIFIED Contractors are subjected to the most stringent screening process in the industry.  52 criteria in  ten distinct areas are scrutinized:

1.       License and Certifications

2.       Insurance

3.       Experience and Staffing

4.       Administrative support

5.       Financial responsibility

6.       Customer Service

7.       Estimates

8.       Training and Education

9.       Support

10.    Criminal history

 

 A startling reality

A contractor whose license has been suspended or revoked is most likely to go underground and continue contracting outside the jurisdiction of the Contractors State License Board, and due to the risk of being discovered ceases to pay taxes and fees. Without a valid license this contractor is unable to obtain insurance or bonds only to exacerbate the risk to the unwary consumer and adversely impact local, state and federal revenue. Unlicensed contractors are responsible for the loss of $60 – 140 Billion dollars (That’s Billion with a “B”) in California State revenue every year, nearly twice the State’s annual budget.

 

www.brick2brick.com offers the State an alternative to license suspensions and revocations. The monitoring these probationary contractors enables the problem contractor to stay within the system while continuing to contribute to local, state, and federal revenue in the form of taxes, and fees. While maintaining workers compensation and liability insurance.

How many employees have thought “I could start my own business and do this better than…”  or my personal favorite “I’m tired of working for people I wouldn’t even hire.”

Many of these employees are supplementing their incomes by performing “side-Jobs” taking work from their employers and putting the public at risk while working without insurance or the resources to prevent problems or correct the problems should they occur.

B.R.I.C.K LLC provides tradespersons who are contemplating the start of their own companies, the tools to plan, execute, and succeed in that effort.

 Contractor benefits include help with:

·         Obtaining and managing insurance

·         Staffing, including employee screening, training and retention

·         Obtaining and managing Lines of credit

·         Administrative support

·         Preparing estimates and project documents

·         Marketing

·         Business planning and organization

·         Risk Management

·         Customer Service support and training

·         Legal issues

 B.R.I.C.K LLC will provide consumers with the resources to truly make informed decisions about the contractors they hire, and the trades' persons who enter their homes and businesses.

The only question you need to ask!

Are you

 B.R.I.C.K. CERTIFIED?

 

Community Benefits

·         Privately funded at no cost to tax payers, Federal, State or local government

·         Increased State revenue ($50 – 125 Billion)

·         Reduces the need for tax increases

·         Reduces the need for cuts to public services and employee benefits

·         Frees up revenue by assisting in enforcement of labor, construction, and tax laws

·         Provides additional resources for Property/project owners

·         Improves public safety

·         Reduces court costs and case loads

·         No additional or changes to existing Legislation, laws or regulations.

·         No risk to current public officials or employees

·         Risk Management for insurance providers and underwriters

·         The creation of 100,000 – 200,000 new jobs for local residents

 B.R.I.C.K LLC  subjects it's member contractors to the most stringent screening process in the industry, and tracks financial, criminal, civil, and operational changes in the contractors business that may impact your relationship with our members.

We are able to look into areas of the contractors operation that a government entity or consumer would not be able to approach because the contractors  provide this informationto us willingly . Though the details are not available to the general public, it is used to improve not only their businesses, but the very way that the contractor interacts and does business with you the consumer.

Contractors who do not meet the standards, are assisted in making the corrections and improvements necessary to become B.R.I.C.K Certified.

We invite you to get involved and join B.R.I.C.K. today

 

The only question you need to ask ....