Home improvement

A home is a huge purchase. It costs a lot of money and it can take a lot of time to get your home when it is being built for you. When you are going through home construction, there are several things to consider. You want to make sure that the home construction process with your custom home builder is quick and with as few difficulties and headaches as possible.

The first thing to consider is who is going to build your home. You want to make sure you find a home builder who can build the home to the style you want at the price that you can afford. You need a home builder who knows what they are doing and one who is not going to take the money and run. Once you have found a contractor and researched them on the internet and through the Better Business Bureau, you can move on to the next step.

The next thing to consider is your budget. You are only going to have so much money to spend on your home and the last thing you want is to find out the house is going to cost more than you thought it would. When that happens, work stops and your home sits unfinished until you come up with the cash needed. This is why you need to take your budget and find a home that costs about 80 percent of your budget. So, if you have a budget of $600,000, then your home should cost about $480,000 to build. That leaves you $120,000 extra to deal with any cost overruns or changes to the building plans. When you talk with your contractor you should ensure that they stick to the estimate they give you and will talk to you about any extra charges that come up so you are not caught off guard by cost overruns.

The next thing to consider is where you are building for two reasons. Is it where you want to live and if you are thinking of selling, will you get back more than what you paid for the home? Location is important so do your research to find out if it is where you want to live. You should also consider the location and various zoning and permit laws that may be in place in the area.

When you do your research and know what to consider with a new home construction project, you can ensure that everything goes as planned and you are in your new home as quick as possible.

By: Eric Willey

Although a major home improvement can prove to be a rewarding project, it can also turn your life upside down if you are not prepared. I’ve heard of some worst case scenarios involving people who have lost their homes because they got in over their heads and others who ended up with incomplete project nightmares that cost them thousands of dollars to correct.

Following is a list of the top ten mistakes homeowners make when undertaking home improvement projects and tips on how to avoid them:

1. References. Do enough research and background checking to satisfy you. Walk away if the contractor is not willing to provide references from former clients. Do an online search of the contractor’s business and personal name. Check with local courts for judgments filed against them and with the Better Business Bureau for any consumer complaints. Look at previous work completed (in person). Check with material suppliers since a good contractor will have a long-standing relationship with suppliers. Contact other contractors who have worked with them before. Check their credit standing – contractors with bad credit are often disorganized and don’t manage their business well. Inquire about insurance, workers compensation and licensing.

2. Project management. You need one person to help you manage your project. Most issues occur when inexperienced homeowners try to manage their own project. A project manager is a single point of contact between the homeowner and other contractors and is responsible for scheduling and workflow.

3. Contracts. Make sure your contract is solid. As obvious as this may sound, failure to get a contract or signing an incomplete contract is one of the most common mistakes. Put all the details in writing – never take someone’s word for it. Following are items that should be included in the contract: (1) the full name of the company and the person you are doing business with and their contact information, (2) an addendum consisting of the complete set of plans, (3) an addendum consisting of the materials to be used, (4) the price of the goods or services, (5) the manner and terms of payment, (6) a description of the work to be performed, (7) a start date and an estimated completion date, (8) a default clause in the event either party defaults that specifies how damages will be calculated, (9) warranties and (10) signatures.

4. Warranties. Make sure you receive a warranty with detailed terms and conditions. Don’t accept a contract that simply states that all work is guaranteed. There is often confusion as to who is responsible for the warranty. Get the following in writing: (1) Who is backing the warranty? (2) What is covered and what is not covered? (3) How long is the warranty valid for? (4) What can void the warranty? (5) What is the process for placing a warranty claim?

5. Changes. During the project, you may change your mind on certain design aspects which may require more or less work from contractors. It is critical to document every change order and note the exact cost or savings. Changes should be signed and dated by all parties.

6. Plans. Get a clear description on what will be done, how it will be done and the materials to be used. For smaller projects, contractors can draw up plans. For larger and more complicated projects, find a qualified designer or architect. And, for example, if load-bearing walls will be altered, find an engineer to review the structural side of the plans.

7. Costs. Estimating costs tends to be a big problem because people do not make realistic comparisons. Homeowners may hire the contractor with the lowest price but that price may turn out to be much higher in the end. “Allowance items” tend to be the main culprit in estimating costs. For example, contractors may give you allowances for flooring, lighting or hardware that are artificially low. The bid looks enticing until you examine it closely. Request a line item for straight costs on materials and labor since some contractors mark up materials and labor so they can make a profit on it. Ask the contractor to pass along costs to you and to add a line item for their fee. This creates a more clear and honest assessment of the job.

8. Financing and payments. Before signing the contract, figure out how you are going to pay for your home improvement project. Make sure you maintain control of the money – don’t let your project manager or contractor control the money. This sounds obvious but many homeowners allow contractors to make draws on construction accounts only to realize that the draws were not used for the intended purpose. What does this mean? It means your contractor scored a new truck, you’re out of money and the project is incomplete. Tips: (1) don’t pay a lot of money up front, (2) pay when materials are delivered, (3) pay when work begins and (4) pay as work progresses. Pay only after work and materials are inspected and approved.

9. Inspections. Don’t wait until your home improvement project is almost complete to do the inspection. Plan phased inspections along the way so work doesn’t need to be re-done. Don’t rely on city and county building inspectors to protect you since the codes they enforce don’t guarantee quality (and they often miss things too!). Before paying for work, hire an independent inspector to do periodic phase inspections.

10. Materials. Stick with products that are tried and true. This rule especially holds true when it comes to windows, doors, framing materials, roofing products, concrete coverings, epoxy floors, plumbing, light fixtures and electronics. You don’t want to be the guinea pig that test runs the supposed latest and greatest new products or materials only to find out that these items don’t last or turn out to be fire hazards!

By: Hilary Basile

New York totally fits the name “megacity,” a complex network of residential, industrial and commercial establishments. Naturally, home improvement is gaining priority in the lives of its multi-million residents. Busy lifestyles demand versatile, living spaces that are snug refuges at the end of the day, regardless of the size or type of units. Homeowners need to know what to do it cases of damages and functionality issues hiding; who is busy corporate man who wants to wait for the time when the damage is beyond repair? The time will come when having a contact number on a home improvement contractor will prove handy. So how do you get the best one?

For starters, good feedback passed from friends is the best form of marketing among business owners, which can lead to the demise of one’s business too, if not that positive. Check among the circle of people around you as to who they can recommend. A careful search will almost always turn up testimonials about a good contractor. Be prudent, if not keep clear about names that come up in your trips to a construction supply store; some of these references could simply be false contacts that rely only on finder’s fees.

If you run out of totally reliable sources of information in these matters, look them up in the BBB or the Better Business Bureau in your locality first before rubbing your elbows raw together with some worn local Yellow Pages. Maximize your time too by looking up home improvement contractors with less-than-polished records or with dubious and vague feedback. Of course, the web or the Information Superhighway is always a standalone archive of contacts with a good home improvement contractor waiting at the end. Try Googling keywords like “contractors”, or the name of some familiar professional that you are interested in, and you might also find some of his good affiliates in your own area.

As you near the end of your worries about those tiles or your ceiling, screen through the contacts you have amassed to spot the right contractor to invest your money and time on. Call each of your prospects and do not get surprised that you have to go through specific details he needs to know about. Your home as an investment is at stake here, so do not hold back questions especially the critical ones that could mean aesthetic and safety issues. Deciding on your choices only because of the price quoted by the contractor to be the lowest does not mean reliable. It may also not mean the highest quality possible. When mulling over price bids, think about what the contractor plans to do plus materials involved in the project. Needless to say, you also need to be responsible in looking up his license.

If you do your own careful contacts review, you can get a competent contractor, for sure. The time extended on going through the selection and the dollars spent would prove to be well worth it not only after the project has been finished successfully but in the long run. Getting the right and sensible handyman for your home project steers you clear of those unnecessary headaches and additional costs.

By: Lori T Smith

At any point in the life of your New York home, the need to hire contractors will inevitably arise whether for emergency repairs or a grand remodeling project. In fact, one of the keys to a successful home improvement is craftsmanship and to afford your project one of the essentials to an efficient completion, it is important that you give much attention to which service you choose. Whether you are in Queens, Long Island, Brooklyn, Staten Island, or Manhattan; give the best bang for every remodeling buck by choosing the right contractors.

Finding Contractors

Looking for professionals is not so hard a task but finding the most qualified one to handle your project in the most time and cost-efficient manner is what’s hard. Knowing where to look is crucial to avoid getting ripped off by cons.

The most effective as well as most damaging form of marketing is word of mouth, so try and look around for well-reputed contractors. The best resource there is are referrals from your circle of trusted people from your close family to friends and neighbors who have worked successfully with the same home improvement.

Other sources are your local building department, contractors’ websites, and your local associations of homebuilders and renovators. Be wary about referrals that you get from home improvement stores. They might have been mentioned out of some referral-fee-scheme.

Factors to Consider

Choose contractors that have everything that it takes to make a success out of your home improvement including the skill set when it comes not only to technical matters but interpersonal and business as well. Other than these qualities, here are other things to check on:

· Membership and good reputation at your local BBB or Better Business Bureau.

· Valid and proper coverage of insurance

· Appropriate licenses and trainings that make them qualified to take on tasks, especially if the renovation involves areas needing specific expertise such as electrical systems and plumbing

· Satisfied referrals to backup quality of work and professionalism

Taking the time to make sure that your contractor candidate has all these will avoid problems along the way that can be both disastrous as well as costly. Make sure that you work with someone who has the experience and has already established a name in the industry. Other than knowing how to go about the actual remodeling, the experience and network helps professionals know what to do when problems arise as well get subcontractors and immediate professional help when necessary.

Getting Multiple Bids

To land only with the best contractors, it is important to get multiple bids from at least three qualified candidates. By doing so, you can further evaluate what each of them has to offer other than skills, experience, and quality results. With the different bids at hand, compare the scope of work they will be covering, the timeline and rates inclusive of the service. Comparing such would help you decide who offers the best deal as well as spot scams such as hidden fees and other project cheats.

By: Eugene G. Makeev

How to make sure you choose a reasonably priced, reliable home improvement contractor.

A home improvement project is a major investment. Much time, effort and money will go into creating home improvements to make your home more enjoyable, livable and more valuable. The success level of your project will depend primarily on the person at the head of the project, namely, your home improvement contractor.

The home improvement contractor you hire should be able to schedule, coordinate, plan and activate those plans to provide you with the results you want in a timely and efficient manner. The abilities of the home improvement contractor you choose will determine the overall success of your home improvement project.

Home improvement centers, online sites and friends and neighbors are all good places to begin your search for a good home improvement contractor. It’s a good idea to try to get at least three home improvement contractors to give you a quote on your project.

Home Improvement Contractor

As you choose your home improvement contractor make sure you give each contractor the same set of plans or specifications to bid by. You want to make sure they all have the information and requirements. When you choose your home improvement contractor make sure you are comparing each contractor against the same checklist.

The checklist should include things like checking references, checking with the Better Business Bureau, comparing materials quality, comparing the timeline for completion, the professionalism of the quote and of course the price. The person with the lowest price may not always offer the best bargain.

To ensure that you’re getting the most reliable and highest quality home improvement contractor the materials they will be using should be investigated thoroughly. Sometimes a contractor with a lower bid may be using less than optimal materials. Make sure you check everything on your list before you make a final decision.

Professional home improvement contractors will have everything written in a professional contract before they begin the work. Read the contract carefully and get answers to any questions you have before you sign the agreement. Taking the time to choose your home improvement contractor carefully will give you the reward of a professionally completed project you can enjoy now and in the future.

By: Gregg Hicks

Having a contractor for a foundation repair job may give perfection to the job, but it is also expensive. However, people lacking the time or skill to do the job themselves could opt for one from several of the foundation repair contractors available. Giving a foundation repair contract to an external agency means having to cope with the inconvenience of workmen in your house for a couple of days and someone being at home during the entire period of the repair job for supervision and security.

Contractors for repair work are the same people who also undertake other home improvement contracts. You may find several of them online as also in your own neighborhood street. Home improvement contractors work as smalltime businesses. They generally have a few skilled and unskilled laborers and limited resources. They also have built-up contacts with certain suppliers, who sell them materials at concession rates.

Once you approach a contractor, the first thing they would do is to visit your house, examine the extent of the deterioration and pull up an estimate based on the same. Usually contractors do not charge anything for estimates. It is always prudent not to rely on a single estimate. At least three estimates must be taken. Do not settle for the lowest estimate – rather see who provides better materials and better overall quality of the job. It is unwise to save a few dollars just to have the whole repair work redone in a couple of years.

Before money is exchanged, ask the contractor for references and any previous history of work done. These references must all be cross-checked, paying a visit to their homes and inspecting their quality of work if possible. Also verify with the Better Business Bureau if they have had any complaint lodged by previous unsatisfied customers.

One more important thing to be checked before paying the contractor the first down-payment is whether they have all the requisite licenses. Foundation repair work involving fitting of sump-pumps requires licenses. Also if the repair work exceeds a certain amount, which is roughly $30,000, the contractor must have a license. Then there is insurance. Three insurances must be checked for: (i) the Workman’s Compensation Insurance, which protects you if a worker is injured in your premises; (ii) the Automobile Insurance, which would assist you were your contractor to damage any other vehicle on your premises and (iii) the General Liability Insurance, which would compensate you if your contractor or laborers would damage any of your property.

It is not necessary and, of course, not wise to pay the entire amount to the contractor in advance. Almost all contractors begin work with a little amount of the total upfront and claim the rest of the amount upon the completion of the job. There are many unforeseeable situations that may occur like natural calamities, strikes of vehicles or even death of the contractor for which a homeowner has to be prepared for.

Finally, it always pays never to rely totally on the judgment of the contractor. There are several do-it-yourself books and guides which one must read before embarking on a job. Knowing what the repair job is all about will go a long way in protecting you from being cheated.

By: Ken Marlborough

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) logged almost 10,000 complaints last year against contractors showing that many Americans have difficulty finding reputable contractors. Of the almost 4,000 different categories of complaints accepted by the BBB, those against contractors rank 13 in terms of prevalence.

Despite the volume of BBB complaints logged against some contractors, most contractors are honest and operate within the law. Following are tips for finding a contractor you can trust with your home improvement project:

1. Ask for referrals.

The best way to find a good contractor is through a direct referral from someone you trust, such as a family member, friend, or neighbor, who has successfully completed a similar project. Or, consult your local hardware store or home improvement store for a referral to a contractor.

2. Get a quote.

Yes, this may sound silly and obvious but some contractors will give a quote for a home improvement project over the phone – sight unseen! Although this is frequently done with electricians and plumbers for work that is done frequently, a home improvement project is a different story.

3. Contact references.

Before committing to a contractor, talk to past clients to determine how reliable, speedy and reasonably priced they think your contractor candidate is. Were they pleased with the work but thought it took too long to complete, or did the contractor deliver on-time and on-budget? Reputable contractors will provide a list of satisfied customers who have agreed to act as references. Consider it a ‘red flag’ if your potential contractor can’t provide the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of past satisfied customers.

4. Verify liability insurance.

Liability and medical insurance for contractors may or may not be required in your state, but it should be for anyone working in your home! Require that your contractor presents a certificate of insurance prior to signing any contracts, and call the agent to verify that the policy actually exists and what it covers. The contractor’s general liability policy, at a minimum, should be 100 percent of the value of your home.

5. Perform a background check.

The contractor won’t be offended if he has nothing to hide. Also, find out if he intends to subcontract some work, and do a background and financial check of those contractors as well.

6. Insist on credit and bank references.

Most contractors keep accounts with local suppliers making it unnecessary for you to make large, upfront payments. Avoid contractors with no credit. Many consumer complaints arise from “fly-by-night” contractors, promising to do work but end up taking your money and disappearing. Such pseudo contractors keep these scams going by constantly moving their base of operations. Consider hiring locally-based contractors that have a reputation to uphold.

7. Get it in writing.

Good contractors will give you a binding estimate in writing and won’t work without a written contract. The contract should clearly spell out exactly what the project will cost, what will be accomplished and the anticipated time frame for completing the job. If you are dealing with a high-price-tag project, don’t hesitate to get an attorney to review the contract before you sign it.

Never rush into any home improvement project since doing so relinquishes control to the contractor.

By: Hilary Basile

Home renovation is a $300 billion industry in the US. There is such a vast number of home improvement contractors operating in the market that it becomes difficult to choose the right contractor for your residential improvement or remodeling needs. If you want to save yourself from a terrible experience of hiring an inefficient service company or contractor, follow a few simple steps to get the best people on-board to work on one of your most prized assets.

Steps To Choosing a Home Improvement Contractor

Here are a few steps that you should take before finding a reliable home improvement contractor.

1. Make A List Of Improvements: Your first step should be the creation of a thorough list of every improvement that you wish to make in your home. Make sure you include all the areas and be sure how you want everything to appear after it is all finished.

2. Research: This is one of the most important steps in deciding the right improvement contractor. Online researching is highly recommended, since it allows you to save a lot of time, money and energy. Look for an improvement and renovation service provider with accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or other such licensing boards.

3. Word-Of-Mouth: Ask for references from people who have used the services of the home improvement industry and are happy with the results. You can also ask for references of former clients from the companies during your research. The customer references will help you get an idea of the type of work done by each company.

4. Take Free Estimates: Contact different home improvement contractors who provide all the facilities required to renovate, reconstruct, or improve your residence. Request the companies for a free estimate and full price quote.

5. Contractor Insurance: Check if the contractor has proof of some kind of insurance in. Insurance helps you in case of an accident or a problem. Most reputable contractors provide insurance provisions to their customers to avoid any unforeseen expenses.

6. Compare Candidates: After consulting potential home improvement contractors, narrow down your options and decide whom you want to work with. Keeping in mind their availability, the price quoted and client testimonials, you can pin point the best professional service provider.

By: Melville Jackson

Are you planning to replace the roof of your house, remodel a room, or do some other type of home improvement? Even if you’re a Do-It-Yourself kind of person, you may not have the time or effort available to do it yourself. So you’ll need a home improvement contractor. But choosing the right one is crucial, to ensure that the job gets done both properly and proficiently. Here are some tips to find the right contractor:

1. Look for contractors who are licensed, bonded, and insured.

This is one of the most important steps when searching for a home improvement contractor. Verify that the person has a valid license to perform such work. This will help to ensure that the person has the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to do the job correctly. It’s vital that the worker adhere to industry standards when performing work on your home.

Also, the contractor should be bonded. In case something goes wrong and the contractor doesn’t complete the work that the two of you (or you and his company) had agreed upon, this will help to ensure that you’re protected.

Finally, make sure that the home improvement contractor be insured. Accidents can even happen to the most careful of people, so it’s crucial that the worker is properly insured-to protect you and him.

2. Review reviews.

Of course, you should take these “reviews” with a grain of salt. Some reviews will be inflated because they were actually written about a particular improvement of a job -and BY that same company! On the other hand, you should also be cautious about reviews that are 100% negative. While this could be justified, some homeowners are tough to please and could never find a home improvement contractor that they’re fully satisfied with. So a better option is to review evaluations by completely unbiased organizations, such as the Better Business Bureau in the USA.

3. Get written estimates, contracts, and warranties.

Insist on getting written estimates, and never get verbal estimates either in person or over the phone. Verbal estimates could mysteriously change once the contractor starts the work.

After you choose a contractor to do the home improvement(s), make sure to get a written contract. It should include precisely all the work that the contractor will do, as well as a timeframe for its completion. Don’t sign on the dotted line until you’ve used your bifocals or magnifying glass to read all the fine print.

Also, only choose contractors that are willing to back up their work with a written warranty. Again, only such documents are legally binding. If something goes wrong, make sure that you’re not left high and dry with a shoddy home improvement job.

4. Get personal referrals.

It’s been said that personal referrals are the best ones. That’s because it’s highly unlikely that our friends, relatives, and colleagues would lead us astray. Find out if they’ve had similar work done to their homes, and whether there are any home improvement contractors or companies that they’d recommend. This will definitely help to narrow down your search, since you’ll want to avoid those people and companies that you get negative feedback about.

These tips can help to find the right contractor who can work to make your house an ever better one!

By: Graeme Renwall