Thinking of Remodeling? Don't Get Hammered and Nailed by a Contractor

Article by: Donald Lawson

Next to slimy used car salesmen and shoddy Builders, the people I see taking advantage of consumers the most are remodeling contractors. , Citrus Juicer For Those Squeezed-For-Time Mornings Come to think about it, I'd say they are at the top of the list!

It doesn't matter how large or small the job is, everyone can fall , Great Ideas for Bunk Beds, Loft Beds and Futons victim. I've seen homeowners doing $2500 jobs get taken advantage of just as quick as Clients doing a $157,000 project.

Here are a few fast and hard tips , Increasing Desire To Own A Quality Spring Air Mattress to keep you from getting hammered and nailed by a remodeling contractor. , Empire Furniture For Home Decorating

If your state requires contractors , Protect Your Floors with a Concrete Sealant! to be licensed, , Empire Furniture For Home Decorating ask for their license and follow up with the State to make sure their license is still current. Also ask for any complaints they may have against them.
Ask the contractors , Living Finish Defined - The Facts About Copper Sink Finishes for a copy of their General Liability Insurance. Any reputable company will give you a copy. Follow up with a call , Living Room Feng Shui to the company to make sure they actually have a policy and that it is current. Many a homeowner has tried to file a claim against bogus insurance policies. If the contractor , Home Sauna Advantages doesn't have General Liability Insurance, don't use them. Period. If someone gets hurt at your home , Retractable Awnings... Imagine This and the contractor , Empire Furniture For Home Decorating does not have insurance, in many states you can be sued for any damages!
Ask for a list of recent and past references, including Clients who were not happy with the contractors , Modern Metal Storage Buildings work. If you deal with the general public enough, you'll have unhappy clients. Everyone does. If the contractor , Home Automation Enhances Your Lifestyle and Saves Money - Exciting Home Automation Applications tells you he doesn't, either they have not been in business very long or they are lying.
Check with the BBB in your area to see if there have been any claims against the contractor. , Parquet Floors Made Easy If so, see how they followed up. The BBB is not a guarantee against hiring a bad contractor, , Vinyl Siding - Adding Value to Your Home many times good ones are not listed with the BBB. Many of us who are self employed see the BBB as just another organization who makes money off of business's through advertising.
A better organization to check is Angie's List. You can find them at www.angieslist.com. Companies on Angies List cannot buy their way in or change , Kitchen Sink Manufacturers: Where To Find The Very Best the reviews of the consumers. Think of Angies List as a neighborhood referral list where a companies past customers grade their work. I've found them to be much more accurate and helpful than the BBB. The only downfall is they are not in every city yet.
Do not pay the contractor , Repairing Household Cleaning Equipment in cash! At the very least, pay them with a check. A credit card is even better, however some do not accept credit cards. That's okay as long as they'll take a check. If they refuse and only want cash, send them along their way. 'Cash Only' contractors , Candle Making 101 are a red flag.
Pay the contractor , Laminate Flooring - Everything You Need To Know. in 'draws'. Most contractors , Modern Metal Storage Buildings are use to getting paid as they go along. A draw payment is a partial payment. Normally the contractor , Home Improvements Â– General Points will get paid something like 25% before they begin as a deposit, then another 25% part of the way through, then another 25% when they near completion and then the final 25% when they are finished. This is a rough sketch of a draw just to give you an idea how contractors , Strange Cleaning Tips work. Avoid any contractors , What Do We Do With Our House and Floor Plans? who want the money up front, that's not how legitimate contractors , Parquet Floors Made Easy work.
Have plans , Cordless Tools: Tips To Increase Battery Life (blueprints) and a contract for your remodeling job drawn up. Have an attorney experienced in construction contracts draw yours up. Yes, plans , How to choose a mattress? and contracts cost money. Without plans , Repairing Household Cleaning Equipment or a contract, it's your word against theirs, and their word wins more times than not. Along with the plans, , Repairing Household Cleaning Equipment have specifications of what you want drawn up as well. Specify everything, from the type of lumber to the brand and type of faucets you'll be installing. Leave nothing to chance! Plans , Soapstone Countertops – Decidedly Magnificent and specifications are the 'parts list' for your remodeling project. Without them, it's up the the contractor , Increasing Desire To Own A Quality Spring Air Mattress as to what goes in the project. Trust me, don't leave it up to a contractor! , Vinyl Siding - Adding Value to Your Home
Hire an independent third party inspector (TPI). Not just any inspector either. You want a Code certified inspector who is knowledgeable about the codes in your area. Don't rely on the city or county inspectors if you have them in your area. Municipal code inspectors do not inspect for the quality of workmanship. Many are overworked and in a hurry and only look for a few things. They also do not have your best interest at stake. They work for the city or county and are looking out for the municipals best interest. Your TPI is on your side and has your best interest at stake. Your third party inspector can meet with you and your contractor , Home Improvements Â– General Points and help you avoid surprises along the way. They can also warn you when the contractor , Why Air Purifiers Are All The Rage starts to use short cuts with your project.
Your TPI should inspect the area that is to be remodeled before construction begins, during and after the construction is completed. Should problems arise, have all work (and draw payments) stopped until your TPI, you and the contractor , Repairing Household Cleaning Equipment can come to an agreement. Your TPI will be the best money spent if you hire the most qualified candidate!

Good luck on your remodeling project. And remember, there are shady contractors , Living Room Feng Shui with big ads in the phone , How To Get A Rebate for Using Alternative Energy in Illinois books and driving new pickups just looking for their next victim. Don't you be it!

Donald Lawson is a Professional Real Estate Inspector licensed , Tankless Water Heaters in Texas (#5824) and Oklahoma (#454). He currently owns and operates V.I.P. Home , Shower Enclosures are all the rage Inspections, a multi-inspector firm in Houston Texas. Donald and his company perform all types of home , Choosing The Right Window and construction inspections in Houston and the surrounding areas.

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