Shop Local
Shopping Locally
Award-Winning Designs | 25+ Years of Experience | Residential/Small Commercial Contractor TN
Award-Winning Designs25+ Years of ExperienceResidential/Small Commercial Contractor TN
Encouraging Chattanooga Citizens to Shop Local
The city of Chattanooga is growing in more ways than one. At Everclear Pool & Backyards Co, we are very proud of our city. The best part is our wonderful small business community. Many outsiders take frequent trips to Chattanooga to experience a little slice of what we get to enjoy every day.
Recently, we’ve noticed a lot of “buy local” advertising encouraging Chattanooga consumers to help support our local economy by shopping local with small businesses.
As our city grows, houses are being built, businesses are being relocated and buildings and homes are being remodeled. Professionals from other economically struggling cities are flocking to Chattanooga to take advantage of the opportunities. While it’s great that bigger cities are acknowledging our economic success, it doesn’t help our own economy.
Many new homes are being built by local contractors, but other things like swimming pools, concrete work, fencing, landscaping, masonry and other trades are being sold by out-of-state companies.
These are not bad companies in most cases. The problem is that all money given to out-of-state companies is spent in another economy, not our economy.
Materials are bought from the state the contractor is from, not locally. This means that money is not being injected into our local economy. Contractors are bringing all materials and all subcontractors from out-of-state. All money spent with these contractors is helping to boost their economy, not our own.
We believe that shopping local is important for our city. The leaders of Chattanooga have worked hard to bring Volkswagen here. That move brought many other companies along, including Amazon.
Chattanooga is on the rise. Our city was built on creative, striving small businesses. We have many brilliant entrepreneurs. Opportunistic companies are building their newfound successes on our growth without rewarding the Chattanooga economically.
Local companies purchase materials locally. Additionally, local businesses employ Chattanooga community members. Here’s an example of an out-of-state company:
- An Atlanta-based company purchased all materials from an Atlanta supplier, used all subcontractors from Atlanta, and hired electricians from Atlanta. In this case, no money was brought into Chattanooga, not even on a $100,000.00-plus project that normally would infuse much money and assist in jobs. Keep in mind that no out-of-state contractors pay taxes locally, whereas local businesses do.
Many businesses from Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina are attempting to look like local businesses by setting up dummy corporations based in Chattanooga. The Chattanooga chapter of the Better Business Bureau is doing what they can to expose these businesses that have listings on the BBB Chattanooga site that lists them as local. Chattanooga citizens should inform the Better Business Bureau if you notice this.
Additional Concerns
It’s difficult to get local contractors back on site due to previous engagements that they're committed to. Try to get a contractor back on site from out of town. This is another reason to shop local. Businesses located in Chattanooga can be found. When you sign a contract with a business located in another state, read the fine print! If you need to engage in legal proceedings with an out-of-state contractor, it may be difficult to hold them accountable in your state. Everything depends on how the contract was written.
Another issue that has plagued this area for some time is builders operating without a proper contractor’s license. Most times they’ll ask the homeowner to pull the permit, which is legal. A homeowner can pull their own permit. When you pull a permit, you take all responsibility for the work being performed on your property. If something goes wrong, you can’t hold the contractor accountable.
Many out-of-state and local builders will ask you to pull the permit and let them perform the work under the permit. Usually this is because they don’t have the proper license. It’s important to make sure your potential contractor is properly licensed and can pull their own permits. Additionally, they should be properly insured.
Let’s help take Chattanooga into the future and continue to treat this fine city of ours with the respect it deserves. We welcome outsiders, that’s what has made Chattanooga such a successful melting pot, but we also need make sure we treat our own business owners properly. Contact us today
if you would like more information.
Questions to Ask Out-of-Town Contractors
- Why travel so far from home to work?
- How much are you adding to the price for travel?
- Check the contractor's or company's Better Business Bureau listing in their home state and/or local town.
- Ask them directly what their local reputation is. Ask for references in the city they originated in.
- Check their contractor or company license in the state they are from.
- Ask for local references.
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