Arts & Entertainment
Successful contracting
Take your time, conduct research before hiring workers
Be sure to spend an hour getting to know a contractor before hiring him or her for your job.
By SCOTT SIEGAL
Special to the Blade
Over the last decade, the largest trade publication (Remodeling Magazine) has conducted surveys of homeowners who have recently performed home improvement projects. According to the results, almost half of the respondents would not recommend their contractor. This means that if you are contemplating any type of home improvement work, you are at great risk, even if the contractor was referred to you.
All construction projects end with the customer being either satisfied or dissatisfied. There are clear-cut patterns in both the satisfied and dissatisfied situations. The following information is intended to help you identify the telltale patterns so that you better understand the contracting process.
If you do your homework and take the time to make the proper decisions, you will be one of the satisfied owners and not one of the victims. Generally, most dissatisfied construction project victims limited their focus to the following two questions:
“How much will the project cost?” and “When can the work get started?”
However, many authorities have suggested focusing on other questions before awarding your project to anyone. There is a lot to learn before awarding your project, such as, what products are available and which procedures to use. Therefore, it is vital to know that you can rely on the contractor you choose to give you good advice about those products and procedures that may be new to you. The critical factor in a successful contracting project is selecting the right contractor.
In order to select the right contractor, it is necessary to evaluate what I call the 4Ps of owner protection:
Problems: What are the problems that are causing the need for construction?
Products: What products and procedures solve those problems?
People: Who is the contractor to install the products and how do you qualify him/her?
Price: How do you determine if the price quoted is fair and competitive?
You should evaluate your contractor as carefully as you would choose your doctor or lawyer. You will want to select a contractor who can perform the work to your expectations and satisfaction. I will try to highlight some very straightforward questions that you should ask contractors in order to protect yourself from the nonprofessional or unqualified contractor. A professional contractor will have no problem working with you to answer these questions so that you can proceed with trust and confidence.
First, allow yourself a minimum of one hour to sit down with each contractor. You need to explore the problems, products and prices. You will be surprised at how many options and questions can be discussed with a professional contractor. This hour of getting to know and qualify your contractor can save endless hours of time dealing with dissatisfaction.
Question 1: What is the full name and address of the company?
Reject a contractor without a permanent place of business. Visit the contractor’s place of business. Does it appear that the equipment, manpower, and wherewithal is available to complete your project in a professional and timely manner?
Question 2: Does the contractor carry insurance and is the coverage adequate?
Reject the contractor without proper and adequate insurance. You should have them provide you a Certificate of Liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Verify with the insurance agent that the coverage is still in effect and for the type of work you are contracting.
Question 3: Is the company a licensed contractor?
Licensing is required in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Each jurisdiction has its own requirements. Reject a contractor that doesn’t have a valid license.
Question 4: Is the contractor a member of a trade association and in good standing?
Contractors that are members of trade associations get training and up-to-date industry information that prove they are committed to their trade.
Question 5: How long has the contractor been in business?
Needless to say, the more experienced the better. Less than five years is often a telltale sign of an unstable business. Most contractors (96 percent) fail within the first five years.
Question 6: What is the contractor’s track record for handling complaints?
Many quality contractors with thousands of completed projects are exposed to disputes. The question is not if they have had disputes, but what was done about the dispute after it occurred.
There are many more questions, but I hope that this information helps you make a wise contracting decision. This may seem like a lot of work, but if you ever had a bad contracting experience, or know someone who has, you can appreciate the value of the time spent evaluating your contractor.
Scott Siegal is president of Maggio Roofing. Reach him at 301-891-1390 or [email protected].
Photos
PHOTOS: Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza
LGBTQ celebration held in downtown Silver Spring
Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza was held on Sunday, June 29 at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, Md.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The fifth annual Fredericksburg Pride march and festival was held on Saturday, June 28. A march through the streets of downtown Fredericksburg, Va. was followed by a festival at Riverfront Park.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
India
Anaya Bangar challenges ban on trans women in female cricket teams
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar’s daughter has received support
Anaya Bangar, the daughter of former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has partnered with the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport in the U.K. to assess her physiological profile following her gender-affirming surgery and undergoing hormone replacement therapy.
From January to March 2025, the 23-year-old underwent an eight-week research project that measured her glucose levels, oxygen uptake, muscle mass, strength, and endurance after extensive training.
The results, shared via Instagram, revealed her metrics align with those of cisgender female athletes, positioning her as eligible for women’s cricket under current scientific standards. Bangar’s findings challenge the International Cricket Council’s 2023 ban on transgender athletes in women’s cricket, prompting her to call for a science-based dialogue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the ICC to reform policies for trans inclusion.
“I am talking with scientific evidence in my hand,” Bangar said in an interview posted to her Instagram page. “So, I hope, this makes an impact and I will be hoping to BCCI and ICC talking with me and discussing this further.”
On Nov. 21, 2023, the ICC enacted a controversial policy barring trans women from international women’s cricket. Finalized after a board meeting in Ahmedabad, India, the regulation prohibits any trans player who has experienced male puberty from competing, irrespective of gender-affirming surgery or hormone therapy. Developed through a 9-month consultation led by the ICC’s Medical Advisory Committee, the rule aims to safeguard the “integrity, safety, and fairness” of women’s cricket but has drawn criticism for excluding athletes like Canada’s Danielle McGahey, the first trans woman to play internationally. The policy, which allows domestic boards to set their own rules, is slated for review by November 2025.
Bangar shared a document on social media verifying her participation in a physiological study at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, conducted from Jan. 20 to March 3, 2025, focused on cricket performance. The report confirmed that her vital metrics — including hemoglobin, blood glucose, peak power, and mean power — aligned with those of cisgender female athletes. Initially, her fasting blood glucose measured 6.1 mmol/L, slightly above the typical non-diabetic range of 4.0–5.9 mmol/L, but subsequent tests showed it normalized, reinforcing the study’s findings that her physical profile meets female athletic standards.
“I am submitting this to the BCCI and ICC, with full transparency and hope,” said Bangar. “My only intention is to start a conversation based on facts not fear. To build space, not divide it.”
In a letter to the BCCI and the ICC, Bangar emphasized her test results from the Manchester Metropolitan University study. She explained that the research aimed to assess how hormone therapy had influenced her strength, stamina, hemoglobin, glucose levels, and overall performance, benchmarked directly against cisgender female athletic standards.
Bangar’s letter to the BCCI and the ICC clarified the Manchester study was not intended as a political statement but as a catalyst for a science-driven dialogue on fairness and inclusion in cricket. She emphasized the importance of prioritizing empirical data over assumptions to shape equitable policies for trans athletes in the sport.
Bangar urged the BCCI, the world’s most influential cricket authority, to initiate a formal dialogue on trans women’s inclusion in women’s cricket, rooted in medical science, performance metrics, and ethical fairness. She called for the exploration of eligibility pathways based on sport-specific criteria, such as hemoglobin thresholds, testosterone suppression timelines, and standardized performance testing. Additionally, she advocated for collaboration with experts, athletes, and legal advisors to develop policies that balance inclusivity with competitive integrity.
“I am releasing my report and story publicly not for sympathy, but for truth. Because inclusion does not mean ignoring fairness, it means measuring it, transparently and responsibly,” said Bangar in a letter to the BCCI. “I would deeply appreciate the opportunity to meet with you or a representative of the BCCI or ICC to present my findings, discuss possible policy pathways, and work towards a future where every athlete is evaluated based on real data, not outdated perceptions.”
Before her transition, Bangar competed for Islam Gymkhana in Mumbai and Hinckley Cricket Club in the U.K., showcasing her talent in domestic cricket circuits. Her father, Sanjay Bangar, was a dependable all-rounder for the Indian national cricket team from 2001 to 2004, playing 12 test matches and 15 One Day Internationals. He later served as a batting coach for the Indian team from 2014 to 2019, contributing to its strategic development.
Cricket in India is a cultural phenomenon, commanding a fanbase of more than 1 billion, with more than 80 percent of global cricket viewership originating from the country.
The International Cricket Council, the sport’s governing body, oversees 12 full member nations and more than 90 associate members, with the U.S. recently gaining associate member status in 2019 and co-hosting the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The BCCI generated approximately $2.25 billion in revenue in the 2023–24 financial year, primarily from the Indian Premier League, bilateral series, and ICC revenue sharing. The ICC earns over $3 billion from media rights in India alone for the 2024–27 cycle, contributing nearly 90 percent of its global media rights revenue, with the BCCI receiving 38.5 percent of the ICC’s annual earnings, approximately $231 million per year.
Women’s cricket in India enjoys a growing fanbase, with over 300 million viewers for the Women’s Premier League in 2024, making it a significant driver of the sport’s global popularity. The International Cricket Council oversees women’s cricket in 12 full member nations and over 90 associate members, with the U.S. fielding a women’s team since gaining associate status in 2019 and competing in ICC events like the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers. The BCCI invests heavily in women’s cricket, allocating approximately $60 million annually to the WPL and domestic programs in 2024–25, while contributing to the ICC’s $20 million budget for women’s cricket development globally. India’s media market for women’s cricket, including WPL broadcasting rights, generated $120 million in 2024, accounting for over 50 percent of the ICC’s women’s cricket media revenue.
“As a woman, I feel when someone says that they are women, then they are, be trans or cis. A trans woman is definitely the same as a cis woman emotionally and in vitals, and specially, when someone is on hormone replacement therapy. Stopping Anaya Bangar from playing is discrimination and violation of her rights. It is really sad and painful that every trans woman need to fight and prove their identity everywhere,” said Indrani Chakraborty, an LGBTQ rights activist and a mother of a trans woman. “If ICC and BCCI is stopping her from playing for being transgender, then I will say this to be their lack of awareness and of course the social mindsets which deny acceptance.”
Chakraborty told the Blade that Bangar is an asset, no matter what. She said that the women’s cricket team will only benefit by participation, but the discriminating policies are the hindrance.
“Actually the transgender community face such discrimination in every sphere. In spite of being potent, they face rejection. This is highly inhuman. These attitudes is regressive and will never let to prosper. Are we really in 2025?,” said Chakraborty. “We, our mindset and the society are the issues. We, as a whole, need to get aware and have to come together for getting justice for Anaya. If today, we remain silent, the entire community will be oppressed. Proper knowledge of gender issues need to be understood.”
The BCCI and the International Cricket Council have not responded to the Blade’s repeated requests for comment.
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