Home improvement

It’s time to remodel your home, and you’re looking for a contractor that you can trust and someone who will give you a reasonable and fair price for your remodeling project. There’s nothing new here, people have been looking for the same thing for years.

This is probably one of the best home remodeling or home repair magazine topics and will continue to be for many years. There are thousands of remodeling contractors out there who seem to do pretty good work. Some of these remodeling contractors even separate themselves by doing exceptional work and over delivering.

So how do I actually find a good home remodeling contractor? I’ve looked in the Yellow Pages, I’ve asked all of my friends and they all tell me the same thing. I have someone that I would recommend, they do pretty good work and I think that you would be happy with them.

I don’t think this is what you’re looking for, when you’re trying to find a good, and I would like to emphasis the word good home remodeling contractor. You’re not looking for a referral from somebody who was satisfied, you’re looking for a referral from someone who was extremely happy.

Where are these contractors located? Here’s the best piece of advice that I could ever give anyone who is looking for a home remodeling contractor. Stay away from online services. Some of these services charge hefty fees to their contractors. I know one that charges 10% of the total price of your job. In other words if you hire a home improvement contractor from this particular online contractor referral service, you can expect them to add at least 10% to the overall total cost of your job.

Most of the referrals that I have gotten and seen others receive, often seemed to produce the same results as having a monkey select someone out of the phone book. In other words, I have met quite a few homeowners who weren’t very happy with their referrals.

I would like to leave you with the best tip that I could possibly give any homeowner who is looking for a remodeling contractor. Go with your gut feeling, write down a few questions to ask your contractor and asked them. If you’re not comfortable with his personality or any of the answers that these contractors have given you, try to find another contractor who you get along with.

It’s not always going to be the best price, the lowest estimate, the best referral or even hiring a contractor who has completed the greatest number of jobs. Sometimes, you simply need to use your intuition, along with the information that you have gathered to make the best decision about hiring any remodeling contractors.

By: Greg Vandenberge

For various home improvement projects, especially those that involve using concrete, most homeowners get the services of concrete contractors, as they are more knowledgeable in the process of such home improvements. However, given that there is quite a number of contractors who offer their services, finding the right contractor can be a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, doing an adequate amount of research can make the search a lot easier as you can be armed with the information that you need to help you pick the best contractor for your building needs. This research involves employing the same strategies used in canvassing for services from a number of companies that offer them.

Doing the research

One of the best ways to canvass for a contractor is to go online because doing so can allow you to browse through quite a lot of web sites of contractors that offer their services, which also allows you to compare other things like their rates. However, fully trusting the information placed on web sites may not be the best way to pick a contractor because just reading about them cannot give you a feel of how they work and on the type of service they provide.

To be able to get more information, you may need to get referrals from friends and family about a certain contractor that they have used in the past. This is because getting first-hand information from a friend or a relative can give you a feel of how these contractors work and provide their services. Apart from this, doing so also assures you that you would get advice from people who really wish to help you get the right contractor.

Apart from your friends and your relatives, another good source of information is to research about a contractor with regard to the associations and other affiliations they may have. This is because being a member of some of the most prestigious contractor’s associations can give you the assurance that the contractor provides quality work.

Getting the right concrete contractor can be a challenge given that there are a large number of contractors that provide their services, especially on the Internet. Given this, there are other steps you could to take, which includes asking for referrals from family and friends, to help you search for the that right concrete contractor for your building needs.

By: Kevin Stith

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

As I say so frequently that I’m beginning to bore myself, “most remodeling contractors are honest and reliable individuals who want to do quality work at a reasonable price.” Unfortunately, there are just enough contractors out there (or people who claim to be contractors) who take advantage of their customers that some reminders and tips are helpful if you want to do everything possible to protect yourself and your property during home improvement.

1. Don’t make assumptions about referrals. Exercise the same due diligence in evaluating and checking out all contractors. You might have friends or relatives, co-workers or neighbors referring you to contractors they have used with good results. Many people are also simply trusting recommendations from home improvement stores. Even when you are referred to a contractor, check him or her out before you sign a contract. Consumer Reports recently released findings from a study of people who hired contractors to whom they were referred by the two leading home improvement stores. Their survey indicated that people who used these referrals had more problems and were less satisfied with the work than people who used other contractors.

2. Build your remodeling budget in a way that creates a 20% cushion for unexpected surprises. Although the National Association of the Remodeling Industry suggests an allowance of 10% to 20%, I think you are safer to budget for a 20% cost overrun due to surprises. There are literally hundreds of things that can happen or that can be discovered once remodeling begins that will result in a cost overrun. It is not uncommon, for example to discover termite damage, dry rot, damage from leaking pipes, outdated wiring, etc. My point is that you should not use your entire budget on the basics. You will be much more comfortable with your budget if you leave room for surprises.

3. Get a contract – don’t deal with a contractor on the basis of a proposal. If at all possible, get a contract that states a final price for the work, not an estimated cost that can go up or down. Your contract should be as specific as possible and as detailed as possible. It should also contain some kind of warranty for both the installation and the products or materials. You can also specify in the contract that all materials used will be new materials and meet the standards outlined in the contract. It should also state that any changes made during the construction period will be authorized only by written change orders that explain the difference in cost up front. If a contractor is unwilling to sign a contract stating the final price of the remodel, find another contractor.

4. Know what your insurance covers and take out a liability policy if necessary. It is usually easy to call your insurance agent and ask what is covered in terms of damage to your property, loss of property or possessions, and injury or death of a worker on your property during the construction period. You should also be certain that the contractor carries workman’s compensation insurance and liability insurance against injury or death of a worker and against damage or loss to your property or possessions. If you have any concerns about adequate coverage, discuss it with your insurance agent and consider taking out an additional policy during the construction period.

5. Monitor all liens placed against your property during construction (construction liens) by any contractor or subcontractor and ensure that they are removed when the project is finished and the contractor is paid in full. There are unscrupulous contractors who accept payment for a job and then do not remove the liens. In most of these cases, the homeowner is not aware of the lien until some time later when trying to sell the home or take out a loan for further improvements. When homeowners try to resolve the issue, the contractor claims that the bill or part of the bill was never paid and demands payment before removing the lien.

6. Never do business with someone who comes to your door offering their services.

7. Never pay a contractor the entire bill up front. Work out a payment schedule that reflects work completed, and put the payment schedule in the contract.

8. Specify the quality of workmanship and the quality of materials to be used in the remodel or addition in the contract. Not only should you specify materials quality, you should check materials to ensure compliance with the terms of the contract as they are delivered to the construction site. Insist that the costs of all building materials be specified.

9. Include all job specifications in the contract. The more specific the description of the work to be done, the more protection you have. Job specifications state exactly what work is to be done, how it is to be done, the quality of materials to be used, when it is to be complete, and that it must pass inspection.

10. Check all licenses, permits, proof of insurance, and state or local certification before you hire a contractor or subcontractor. Check to be certain the contractor has or obtains all necessary permits, licenses and certificates. Check with issuing agencies or insurance companies to confirm that insurance and licenses are current.

11. Insist that the contractor show you proof of bond coverage for the total replacement cost of the project.

12. Be sure the contract includes the appropriate information about how conflicts will be resolved, when and how the contract will be or can be terminated, and that lien releases will be provided upon payment.

13. If you give the contractor a key to your home for use during the construction period, change the locks as soon as construction is completed.

14. Take the necessary steps to protect your property and your possessions. Put away all valuables in a safe place. Define the construction area for everyone – tell your family not to enter the area during working hours; define limits of access to the rest of your home for the work crew. Protect your landscaping by covering shrubs if necessary and taking other steps to reduce accidental damage. Seal off the construction area from the rest of the house to confine dust, etc.

15. If you are remodeling an old home, make sure any work with potentially hazardous materials is done under the safest conditions and that hazardous materials are completely removed from the work site immediately and disposed of as instructed by your local government. Be sure any lead paint is properly removed; be sure any asbestos is removed and disposed of correctly; be sure old horse hair plaster (that could contain arsenic) is disposed of properly.

These tips will help you protect your family, your property and the people working on your remodeling project. Residential home improvement contractors should be very willing to cooperate on all of these points.

Copyright 2008 by ABCD Publishing

By: Dan Fritschen

Hiring a competent and reliable contractor is essential to making sure that the job is done right. While it may seem as if it should be as easy as opening the yellow pages and choosing one in your area, smart homeowners know that finding a good contractor takes as much time and effort as other aspects of your remodeling job.

Remember, the person you choose to do the work for you will have complete access to your home and family for several days or even weeks, so you must be completely comfortable with having them in your home for an extended period of time. The best way to find a contractor that you can trust is to:

Ask friends, neighbors and co-workers for referrals Check references with people the contractor has done work for in the past Ask salespeople at the local lumber yard or home renovation center who they recommend Check with your local zooming and/or code enforcement office for a list of licensed contractors in your area

Once you find a few contractors that you’d like to consider using for your remodeling project, it’s time to schedule an interview. The Federal Trade Commission suggests that homeowners ask the following questions to determine if a contractor is right for you and your project:

How Long Have You Been In Business? Are You Registered and Licensed With the State and Local Building Authorities? How Many Projects Like Mine Have You Completed in the Past Year? May I Contact Some of Your Former Clients? Will You Be Hiring Any Subcontractors for This Project? What Types of Insurance Do You Carry?

Once you’ve chosen your new contractor, be sure to insist that you get all the details of your project (including price and delivery estimates/completion dates), in writing before paying any deposits. A written contract is essential to ensuring that the work is done properly and on time.

Unfortunately, not every contractor is reputable, and homeowners need to be on the look-out for potential rip-offs. Here are a few things to watch for when hiring a contractor:

Door-to-door solicitation. Offers to use leftover materials from another job. A contractor who only accepts cash payments. Someone who insists on receiving payment in full before commencing work. Pressure to make an on-the-spot decision. Offers to help you secure financing with their own “lender”.

Hiring a reputable contractor seems like it should be easy, but oftentimes it isn’t. Homeowners should be aware of the dangers of hiring the wrong person to work on their home and take all necessary steps to ensure that the work is completed to their specifications, timetable and budget.

By: Matt Hick

Homes used to be made out of wood, stone, cement or hay without architectural design. Today, that is not any more the case. If the homeowner has the money, the house is built beautifully with its custom design according to the desires of the owner. But if the owner is not equipped with the skill to re-design or renovate, then it is a must to hire home remodeling contractors to do the task.

Purchasing a house is a great investment. Remodeling it and making the building more updated is even better since the renovation can add to the purchase price of the house. If the time comes that you wish to sell your home, you can really earn a great sum out of the renovation.

All areas of the house can be remodeled. You can opt to focus on the top 3 rooms that buyers look at when buying a home: kitchen, bathroom and master’s bedroom. You can also do a second story room addition, fix the roofing, install new wooden or tile flooring or make another room. You can even ask to have a basement and garage fit into your lot space. As long as you have home remodeling contractors to assist you, there is nothing to worry about.

Major renovation projects should not be a do-it-yourself plan. This is a complicated job that must be handled by professionals only. It may be pricey at the beginning to hire skilled remodelers, but in the long run, you can save tons of cash. Another benefit of letting the job be done by professionals is that you will be stress-free.

To find the perfect home remodeling contractors, there are a few things you need to know. First, ask for referrals. Your friend, cousin, or real estate agent may know a contractor with experience that can help you remodel your home. A qualified contractor has the know-how and creativity to do the job for you. He must be organized because that is what you are paying for. Remember to ask for a certificate, license or ID for proof that he is indeed a genuine home remodeler.

The contractor first creates a sketch of the remodeling work and gets your approval. If you want to remodel your bathroom, the contractor gives you some designs. You can opt for the design that suits your budget and taste. The contractor employs various professionals like interior designers, painters etc to transform your old bathroom into a stylish one. Painting is one of the best ways to remodel your bathroom. You can create a luxurious hotel room feel to your bathroom with just a few strokes of a brush. The reliable contractor helps to get this work done within your budget.

Let’s say you want to remodel your bathroom. If you hired one of the best home remodeling contractors in your area, then he will give you a sketch of your desired bathroom according to your specs. You can choose whatever you like provided it is within your budget. A contractor will never push you to go overboard; instead he and his team will try to work it around the amount you can afford. You can have hotel bathroom feel even if your cash is not Five Star in value.

Customizing is almost always expensive but then again, if you have hired one of the most qualified home remodeling contractors, he will understand that you want the best even at a limited cost. He will find great alternatives to fit your resources. Do not be afraid to tell him of how much you can afford; just expect that with a certified contractor, your home will turn out to be excellent.

By: Shane Hester

More and more businesses and home owners are hiring painting contractors to paint their interior and exterior walls and resurface their floors rather than attempting to do it by themselves. There are some great contractors that deliver quality services at competitive rates, however there are also inexperienced painters and a few con artists looking for your business. Whenever possible ask your friends and colleagues for referrals and check out references.

Remember a pleasant personality and big talk doesn’t guarantee a good job. Slick talk and compliments are often the tools of scammers. You can usually avoid inexperienced painting contractors if you take time to look at their credentials and ask a few questions. Here’s a list of 5 things to consider when looking for a painting contractor.

1. Instant Quotes vs. Complete Accurate Quotes – It takes time to assess a fair and accurate quote. If the contractor does it off of the top of his head or only gives you a general figure, you might want to turn and walk away. Professional quotes should include a breakdown of labor and material costs.

2. Unbelievably Low Price vs. A Fair and Competitive Fee – If the quoted fee is “too good to be true” it just might be. Quality material and experienced labor are not free. If the price is very low you might end up with inferior paint and inexperience labor. There might also be unexpected fees after the job begins or incomplete work.

3. No Address or Business Card vs. Licensed and Insured – Some contractors work out of home offices but a PO Box is a different matter. Ask if the contractor is insured and licensed. A legitimate business person is happy to provide credentials.

4. No References vs. Portfolio and Referrals Someone new to the area may not have local references but if the contractor claims to be established the reason he or she doesn’t have a referrals may be because nobody was satisfied.

By: Edward Winslow

One of the best ways to find a home improvement contractor is through your friends. You can ask anyone that you trust, for the name of a good home improvement contractor and find out if they were happy with the work that these contractors did on their home. There’s a good chance that you will also be happy using them.

Think about this for a second, you call someone out of the Yellow Pages or contact a home improvement contractor through any other form of advertising, there’s a good chance that you really don’t know what you’re going to be getting.

However, if you ask someone that you know who has had work done on their home, you now have two good sources. You have the opinion of someone that you trust and you can look at the work that was done by the contractor. Both of these are extremely valuable when selecting the right contractor for the job.

It’s almost like rolling the dice, when you contact a contractor blindly, but I would like to mention another thing and this is something that’s very important. As a contractor myself, I have ran into problems using referrals from other contractors and homeowners.

One of the most important things that I could suggest when using a contractor who was referred to you by a family or friend, is to make sure that you feel comfortable with their personality and that they have the ability to complete the job on schedule and know what they are doing.

Don’t just ask one friend for one referral and use that one contractor. Try to get at least two to three estimates before hiring your home improvement contractor.

By: Greg Vandenberge