When is the best time to plant a shade tree? Twenty years ago.
Have you ever heard that saying? It is true: for some things, it is necessary to address them long before they are needed.
A family over by Detroit learned this lesson the hard way. When a contractor took their money and disappeared, they learned that integrity is something you can’t find after the fact.
Allen and Tamina Lock hired All In One Kitchen & Bath to remodel their two bathrooms this summer. They paid 50% down as a deposit and excitedly waited for work to commence.
However, All In One never showed up. In fact, the company filed for bankruptcy three weeks ago.
And the Locks are not the only ones to be taken for a ride by All In One. Multiple families and at least one other contractor are suing for breach of contract and lost monies.
Michigan law clearly outlines that downpayments may only be spent on the work for which the downpayment was made. State law P.A. 259 stated back in 1931:
The appropriation by a contractor, or any subcontractor, of any moneys paid to him for building operations before the payment by him of all moneys…due laborers, subcontractors, materialmen or others entitled to payment, shall be evidence of intent to defraud.
MCL 570.152, Section 3
Thankfully, the families hurt by All In One are on good legal standing. But such failures of integrity are always a prolonged and difficult experience – one I am sure they would rather have avoided.
Integrity means taking seriously the trust that other place in you. Even if All In One never intended to steal the Lock’s money, they failed miserably in managing the trust placed in them.
Don’t end up in a similar situation. And don’t just rely on a contract – be sure that you are hiring someone you can trust. Such a person won’t need a contract to hold them to their word, because their integrity will lead them to do the right thing even when no one is watching.
When is the best time to know you have hired someone of integrity? Long before it matters.
Integrity Home Improvement 
When Linda and I grew up a handshake was all that was needed. I think the same for you where you grew up in PA? It is sad to say that we live in times where lies have become the norm! You will do well because of who you represent – God and Jesus Christ. People sense that in the spirit whether they know things of the spirit or not.
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