A contractor can be used for home remodeling, home improvement projects and any of those little repair jobs around the house. The best way to get a good contractor is to get referrals from friends or other people you trust. Learn more about hiring a contractor and what recourse you can take if the job doesn’t go smoothly. In some areas, contractors must be licensed by the municipality in which they conduct business. If they are licensed, you should make sure you see if the contractor you choose has his or her license in order. You should also make sure they have liability and workman’s compensation insurance.
Customer Complains About New Deck
A contractor writes Ilyce to ask about his obligations to an unhappy home owner. He installed, and repaired a deck for them. They would now like him to start over on the project. Ilyce explains where the contractor stands in these negotiations.
Poor Seller Disclosure May Result In Breach Of Contract
What happens if you buy a home and the contract states one thing but the house does not match that requirement? Under seller disclosure is the seller liable for fixing the discrepancy? In this case, a home buyer believes that his new home lacks insulation which was described in the contract. Before suing the seller, a developer, the home buyer should make sure that his suspicions of lack of insulation are correct by hiring a contractor.
Avoid Contractor Liens With Lien Waivers
Before you get a contractor to work on your property you should get a lien waiver. Lien waivers ensure that if your contractor or a sub-contractor does not get paid for the home improvement or home repair work that they do, your home won't be in danger. When a contractor puts a lien on a home, it makes it more difficult to later sell the home.
Increased Price In Newly Constructed Home
What happens when a newly built home costs more than originally agreed upon in a contract? Often, new construction homes are upgraded as they are built and these costs end up in the final price. Having a clear building contract can avoid such problems after the home is built.
Energy Savings? Maybe
As I was on the show this morning, I found myself getting pretty annoyed with the whole ENERGY STAR program. If you really want to save money on your ...
Ilyce Glink on WSB Radio – January 22, 2006
Ilyce discusses the cost of weddings and how to do a wedding without breaking the bank. Ilyce then takes calls on topics from grant search firms to finding a home contractor to build a first home. (note: this audio file starts a few minutes into the show due to technical problem at WSB).
Filling in for Clark Howard on Newstalk 750 WSB
One of my part-time/full-time jobs is being a radio talk show host for the top News/Talk station in Atlanta, Newstalk 750 WSB. I've been filling in fo...
Thankful for a Warmer Winter
I know that global warming is a concern, and that the wacky weather patterns we've seen over the past few years portend increasing wackiness in the ye...
Ilyce Glink on WSB Radio – July 24, 2005
Ilyce kicks off the show with a discussion about problems involving health insurance and healthcare billing. Ilyce then takes calls on topics from problems with home contractors to changing real estate agents within a real estate company.
Dealing With Flood Damage
While Florida mops up after Hurricane Dennis, and with Hurricane Emily on the way, here's a look at how you can protect yourself when cleaning up and rehabbing your home after a natural disaster such as a flood. After a natural disaster that creates flood damage, the demand for qualified contractors often exceed the supply. This useful article gives you the 411 on post-flood action: how to protect yourself from being ripped off when renovating after a flood.