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

The hiring of contractors for home remodeling projects is not a task to be taken lightly. Therefore, it is recommended that you interview and investigate a minimum of three home remodeling contractors before making your decision to even request bids on your project.

Equally important in this interview stage is being aware of what the questions are that you should be asking. Most homeowners will be focused on the time line for their project and of course, on the final cost of the project. However, these are items that can be addressed a little later on, once you have determined if the home remodeling contractors that you are considering have the type of reputation you are looking for. After all, they will be working in your home.

Here are some questions you will want to ask when interviewing home remodeling contractors:

How long has the contractor been in business? You want to avoid fly-by-night companies and those with very little experience with remodeling. Will the contractor be supervising the project? If not, who will be supervising? Will the contractor be using his/her own employees or sub-contractors? Does the contractor have Workers Compensation and liability insurance? Ask for proof and follow up to verify that these items are up to date and in good standing. Who will be responsible for following up on Workers Compensation and liability insurance issues for sub-trades if they will be used? Check with your state to find out if your contractor requires licensing to work on your project. If so, request proof of licensing and verify the proof you are given. Find out if he/she belongs to any national trade associations and once again verify the answers you are given. Request a list of business and supplier references. You want to know that he/she keeps all business accounts in good order. Ask if the contractor has done any home remodeling projects similar to yours in the past year. Ask for references from those projects. Ask what percentage of the contractor’s business comes from referrals and repeat customers. Once again, ask for references. Ask whether the contractor or his/her employees have taken any specific training in the area of home remodeling. Some designations they might have are: CR: Certified Remodeler CRS: Certified Remodeler Specialist CLC: Certified Lead Carpenter CKBR: Certified Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeler

Here is a question that is often overlooked. If this will be a large or ongoing project, does the contractor supply bathroom facilities for those working on the project?And finally, what does your gut tell you? Listen as much to what is not being said and to what is being said.

A respected referral service is a good place to start when shopping around for a professional to help you with your home remodeling projects. Contractors must meet the criteria set out by the service before they will be accepted or referred. Even so, circumstances can change, so a bit of due diligence on your part is still required.

Taking the time to investigate and interview home remodeling contractors, before signing a contract, will help save you headaches and sleepless nights down the road. It will also help to build your trust in the contractor you ultimately choose and give you confidence that your projects will be completed to your satisfaction.

By: Stella Malone

Most homeowners are trying to find ways to improve the value of their home. There are many ways to do so, but the most popular is to remodel. Many homeowners have come across problems of finding the right contractor or company to handle their specific needs. Although this is a time consuming and hard task to do, it pays off in the end. Try looking for tips to make it an easier process.

Your number one task is finding the contractors that work near where you are located. Let’s say you’re in Southern Maryland; well then what you want to do is find remodeling businesses in southern MD. You’ve got quite a few outfits that can be selected, so narrow it down by looking for ones that are close to you. Save your time and money by not having to travel extensively.

You can find a lot of information about remodeling contractors northern VA by looking online using that same search criteria. There will often be websites for each of the companies so that you can see information about them and the projects that they have worked on in the past. Try searching for the keywords ‘remodeling contractors northern VA’ to get the highest number of results. This might help you make your list shorter if you find only companies who have experience working on the types of jobs that you need done.

You should call each of the companies that are still on your list. Speak to the management about what job you need done. They should be ready and willing to come out to your home in order to give you an estimate. This estimate needs to include both time and cost. It is vital that you get this estimate in writing as well as any fluctuation that may occur.

You will need to talk to the remodeling contractors and get estimates from each of the companies. You should make a list with about one or two of the companies. To find out what company would be best for the job that you need done you should review the information that you have gathered.Call the company that you have decided to use and get the job started.

There are lots of great companies that you can choose from when you are looking at a particular search such as “remodeling contractors northern VA” for example on would be Sun Design Burke VA which is one example of a company that you could choose. In the end. The research that you do will enable you to feel good about the decision that you have made. This means that you can enjoy your new home, along with all of the upgrades that you are getting.

By: Terry Lamb

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

Are you tired and fed up with the old set up of your home? Do you need to spice up the design and decorations in it? Then maybe you need to consider having your house remodeled. Most home owners like to hire the best home remodeling contractors to assist them and help get the perfect design.

There are several contractors, reliable and bogus ones, sprawled in the many various websites, so better be careful when choosing one. A few home owners have been victims of contractors who did not do what is written in the contract. There are contractors who take forever in completing their task or worse, some are not even qualified to do the task of a contractor. However following this important guideline on choosing the best home remodeling contractor will ensure your finding the right one and will be having good results in the end.

Plan and Organize

Firstly, plan as to the extent of your desired home improvement, whether only certain parts or the whole house will be remodeled or not. Before looking for contractors, see if you can do the remodeling job yourself with the help of some friends.

However, if you are planning to do a complete renovation of the house, please do not consider doing the do it yourself process, and if you do not have the background or if you are not qualified to do the project. Others have regret doing this since they do not have the capabilities for doing the job properly. This only ends in making more mistakes and higher cost in the long run when most people have hired home remodeling contractors in the hope of saving their house in complete chaos.

The Qualities of the Best Contractors

1. Choose the contractors who specialize in home remodeling rather than choosing the contractors that are more focus on building.

2. Look for contractors which may be willing to negotiate the price in exchange of their quality service.

3. The best contractor is the one which has the highest reputation for quality among its comrades. You can ask the help of friends and family who just had their home renovated and done by excellent contractors. The companies which are well known for their good service charge higher price than usual.

4. Look for home remodeling contractors with employees with unique ability in custom house remodeling if you are considering in leveling up the improvement such as the installation of high end visual and audio technology in your renovated house. It is important to have the more qualified electricians to do the demanding job.

5. Other contacting companies let their clients pay a certain amount of money as premium if they have finished the project earlier than expected. It may be an additional expense on your part, but, completing the project beforehand is a good thing in a way that you do not have to wait for a longer period of time to live on your own house.

After considering these helpful tips on finding the best home remodeling contractors for your home renovation, you may find it easy now to look for one. It is better to have the best service contractors so that you will not regret. In the end, you will find all your effort and money worth spent.

By: Shane Hester

What can home remodeling contractors help you to accomplish?

The housing market in Portland is not what it used to be. While it is not as bad as some other cities further south or east it is still a challenge to sell a home here. The market is loaded with homes for sale and currently there are more sellers than there are buyers.

It is a far cry from the way it used to be in the earlier part of this decade when homes would be bought, at close to full price without much negotiation, within a matter of weeks. That all started to change by the end of 2007 and really took a turn in 2008 with the housing market meltdown.

If you are trying to sell your home you may want to consider hiring a local remodeling contractor who works in the Portland, OR area.

These people have the task of either making your home look a lot more aesthetically pleasing or creating the home of your dreams. They can make interior improvements, some large and some small, that will change the whole look and feel of your residence.

You tell your remodeler what you want and he/she makes it happen. It could be a new bathroom, kitchen, basement, or you want to spruce up your interior by dry walling the walls.

A good Portland remodeler knows the current trends and is able to create an interior theme based on the homeowner’s budget. A contractor in this particular niche must be skilled at many different types of construction trades. Carpentry, laying tile, electrical, painting, plumbing, and framing are all some of the skills a good remodeling contractor must at least know something about.

Keep in mind that they do not have to be experts on every home improvement niche but they must know a little about a lot of things.

For really complex projects, such as building a new room, your contractor may have to sub-contract out various jobs.

Spending several thousand dollars on some basic remodeling can really improve the value of your home. With the volume of homes currently on the market buyers are looking for something different.

You are going to have to impress them to set your place apart from the others. Gone are the days when any home would sell for near top dollar. One actually has to work hard to sell his real estate and getting the home remodeled is the best area to start.

Take a look at your kitchen, bathroom, wallpaper, and living room. Could something different be added? Could you use new curtains? What about simple things like faucets and light fixtures. Could they be changed to add a different feel to your house? These are all questions you should ask the remodeling company about and they should be able to tell you what you can have done within your budget.

To get a feel about what you may possibly want start by taking a look at some magazines and brochures.

Write down what you like and do not like. If you want to get an exact look nearly copying what you see buy the magazine and show it to the contractor. Be specific about what you want if you know you are picky person and are looking for a precise theme.

The right home remodeling contractor can turn a bland house into a rockin’ one.

By: Wesley A Barras

One of the biggest and most recurring problems in the bathroom remodeling industry is the way some contractors do business. Some of them might ask for a large sum of money upfront before the project is even started, leaving the client little options but to comply with the contractor’s decisions. Always remember that whatever the contractor may tell you, the person with the money is always the person in control, and thus forfeiting it to your worker, even under obligations, is a transition of that power from you to him/her.

If you believe that your contractor is asking for too much cash out of you, demand a detailed list of purchases out of him, and check out all of the products yourself to see if they’re actually worth what they’re supposed to. If your contractor fails to provide you with such a list, then that’s the sign you needed to end your partnership, because chances are he’s trying get some extra money out of you to put in his pocket.

Many decades ago, contractors had much more power than they do today. In the old days, they could ask for as much as half of the money upfront, and half at the end. This would inhibit the people and give more power to the contractors. However, these days things have changed and these people can no longer receive more than 10% of the overall cost (maximum $ 1000), which has eliminated many of the fishy and slimy construction professionals out there.

Most reasonable contractors these days are willing to negotiate for a price which is fair for both parties, as well as payment schedule. If their proposition does not fit in well with yours, do not reject them so hastily and listen to their explanation. If it makes sense then do as you wish. If however, you just can’t seem to find common terms with your current professional, then I recommend you go and look for another one.

By: Melissa K Roy

Green building has been all the rage the last couple of years and for good reason. Reducing waste, conserving and re-purposing materials and creating a sustainable structure and project benefit’s everyone and protects the environment.

But did you know that you could apply these same principals when hiring home remodeling contractors that will protect your money by reducing the potential for wasting it while creating clear and concise guidelines that both parties can consistently depend on to guide them throughout the project?

Using these same principals when planning to hire the right contractor for your project will translate into a successful and satisfying remodeling project. There are 3 very simple but key strategies homeowners can incorporate that will give them a sustainable project that moves forward with fewer problems, less waste and conserves their money.

A homeowner can reduce wasting their money by:

#1. Reducing their exposure to “extra work” not covered in the contract and spec sheet. Extra work becomes a “change order” which means more unexpected money is spent. The potential to go over budget becomes very real if you’re not familiar with these risks. Solution: Never assume oral agreements made will be part of the contract. Having a thoroughly written specifications sheet that spells out every detail of the scope of work to be performed, materials and supplies that are to be used in the project.

A homeowner can conserve their time, energy and money by:

#2. Reducing their exposure to Mechanic’s Liens filed against their property. It’s not uncommon for homeowners having to pay twice for work or supplies that were “presumably” already paid for by the general contractor.Solution: Stipulate in the contract that the contractor is to obtain all Lien Releases from subcontractors and material suppliers for the work performed to date upon each payment made to him.

#3. Hire the right contractor whose business ethics, competency and proven track record are transparent and verifiable. Choosing a contractor with little research on the part of the homeowner, other than a license check is a recipe for disaster. Solution: A homeowner must go beyond the usual check licenses, references and complaint history. Conducting a thorough background search that reveals related lawsuits, complaints filed with online consumer agencies, verifying various insurance coverage’s and conducting an extensive interview related to past performance and customer care.

These 3 simple strategies contribute to creating a sustainable project that will have fewer problems with less waste in money, time and energy spent.
Choosing the right contractor, knowing and protecting your rights along with having a thoroughly written agreement that provides clear direction in performing the work translates into a positive “green” renovation experience for everyone.

By: Jody Costello

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