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The Home Depot provides installation services to its customers for interior and exterior home maintenance projects. Local independent licensed contractors who specialize in these installations are subcontracted by Home Depot for each job. Work can be lucrative, but contractors have to jump through many hoops before becoming an installer for this big-box store. Candidates must complete the application process, including paying registration and application fees.
As a self-employed 1099 Independent Contractor providing virtual call center services to Liveops and it's clients, you will be responsible for your own tax obligations. Actual earnings may vary depending on opportunity, call type, call volume, and other factors. Independent Contractors are responsible for expenses and control their own profit and loss. Home Depot and Lowe’s also benefit from financing that allows customers no interest and no payments for six months to a year. Sayre tells the story of a countertop installer who lost a big job to Home Depot, because even though his price was 20 percent lower, he was unable to finance the deal. Writer Katrina Derrico has been a freelance writer since 2009.
Professional Licenses and Exams
In addition to writing for Demand Studios, Katrina has worked in the real estate and construction industries for over 19 years, holding professional licenses in each. Derrico is working on a master's degree in holistic health from American Institute of Holistic Theology. Independent contractors may also bring greater efficiency and expertise with their work. You can choose a contractor who doesn't have too many tasks at hand at a time so that your work gets done as soon as you want.
They are required to choose from items that are present in the company's catalog and work with fewer options. Not to mention the considerable cost difference and lengthier deadlines. As of May 2010, there is a $10 fee for registering on the site. On this first screen you will be asked to create a user name, password and secret question. You will then be asked to enter your company name and contact information and prompted to enter your credit card information. After your payment has been processed you will be asked to log in.
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Click the “Application Process” button to start your application. You will be prompted to edit your company’s profile and enter all appropriate business information for your trade. You will need to enter the personal information of the principals of the company, services you can provide, coverage area, insurance information, and license information. It is not uncommon for the application process to take two or three visits to complete. As a business provider of call center services, you will submit invoices and receive payment for completed services.
With independent contractors it is easier to figure out a timeline that is feasible for you as well the contractor himself, allowing him to get the job done more easily and on time. When the company is responsible for damages and a sub-optimal job, it is hard to sue such big chains even when you are not satisfied with the work. With your independent contractor, it is easy to delegate and reach an understanding as to what exactly you want. An independent contractor is accountable for providing all of the material, labor, equipment, and services essential for the construction of the project. The general contractor hires specialized subcontractors to perform all or a part of construction work. While choosing an independent contractor, it essential for you to check for his work permit and insurance coverage.
Remote Work-From-Home Independent Contractor - Call Center Representative
You will not have to worry about laying off workers and additional technicalities. Altogether these expenses can sum up to 20 to 30 percent of additional costs. Home Depot plans not only to compete with independent remodelers, but recently became a major supplier to this industry. Last year, the company acquired White Cap Construction Supply, a distributor of specialty hardware, tools, and materials for the construction trades. White Cap has 70 outlets, a staff of 1,700, and an extensive fleet of trucks for job-site deliveries. These programs may require Independent Contractors who choose to participate in these opportunities to provide services above posted minimum standards to maintain eligibility.
Based on supply and demand, if a candidate is chosen, he must then qualify and undergo rigorous background checks to become a service provider and receive orders for jobs. Submit your application and pay the application processing fee. Candidate selection is based on supply and demand—the application you submit will remain on file for sourcing purposes. If your company is selected, you will be asked to provide a certificate of insurance and proof of licenses. Principals and installers will also have to undergo Home Depot's background checks, which will cost you $69.50 per principal and $46.50 per installer, as of May 2010.
Independent remodeling businesses are being increasingly squeezed by Home Depot and Lowe’s. Having captured nearly half of all hardware and building supply sales nationally, the two chains are now expanding aggressively into installation services. After registering, review the entire application process first and gather your company information before starting the application. The process will go much faster and you will feel more confident. “One of the things we’re doing is working with a bank to try to set something up so our members can offer that kind of financing,” said Sayre. Max Equity started with 70 independent remodelers in and around St. Louis.
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The association then went national and has now grown to more than 5,000 members. Choosing an independent contractor is wiser as compared to working with a contractor assigned to you by Home Depot. He says that Home Depot and Lowe’s have the advantage of massive advertising budgets and a widespread perception of lower prices. A customer might go into Lowe’s to shop for a refrigerator, say, and then decide to have the whole kitchen installed by the chain, without getting bids from other remodelers.
By pooling the purchasing power of thousands of remodelers, Max Equity is able to obtain volume discounts from suppliers. The company has negotiated deals with national suppliers of paint, flooring, siding, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning systems. It is also working to establish relationships with local vendors of lumber, kitchen cabinets, electrical supplies, and other products in every state. Initially, both chains started by subcontracting the work to other firms, including some local, independent remodelers. But now they are bringing more and more of the business in-house.
Home Depot recently acquired RMA, the third-biggest installer of replacement windows and external wall coverings, and also bought Installed Products USA, which installs roofing. Many of you may have time on your hands for renovations and installations, but some people are on a timeline. Companies like Home Depot deploy contractors that usually give a minimal time frame of three weeks even to initiate the job.
All users of our online services subject to Privacy Statement and agree to be bound by Terms of Service. Get a free, personalized salary estimate based on today's job market. Client's call availability will vary and is subject to change, however generally calls are available daily from 8am to 8pm EST. There are some benefits to hiring an individual contractor, but there are also some disadvantages. It is important to weigh both the pros and cons before choosing your contractor.
How to Become a Contractor for Home Depot
“Many thought they were invincible, that it would not affect them. Now Home Depot and Lowe’s want it all,” said Bob Sayre, who founded Max Equity, Inc. in 2002 to help independent remodeling businesses counter the mega-chains. Home Depot, which begin with carpet-fitting a few years ago, now installs everything from roofing and windows to decking and heating systems. Lowe’s is likewise moving into “do-it-for-me” services and together the two companies do about 26,000 installations a day.
