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.
New Construction Contractor Backs Out Of Deal
A home buyer has been working with a contractor to build a new home. After the plans are set, the contractor decides to pull out of the area. The buyer is stuck finding a new contractor at considerable cost. Sam and Ilyce explain their legal recourse and what would be the best strategy to get their house built.
Home Improvement: Plan Ahead For Budget
Most remodeling projects require some planning, and the best ones are typically planned far enough ahead so that the details can sink in: How you use and live in a space should dictate the design, scope and cost of the project. Learn about planning a remodeling project including the budget.
How To Budget For Landscaping
An owner of a new construction home wants help determining the budget for new landscaping. Ilyce has heard 10 percent of the purchase price should be allotted to landscaping a newly-constructed house. She suggests you should find a landscape contractor who is willing to develop a plan that you can implement in stages.
Research Water Damage Contractors Through BBB
When you get water damage on your roof and it begins to leak you'll need to hire a contractor to repair your roof. How can you find a reliable roofing contractor? Ask friends, family, colleagues, and local real estate agents to provide referrals. Contact the Better Business Bureau to check the contractor's record.
Home Improvements: Consult Architect And Contractor If Large-Scale Rehab
Learn what to consider for a large scale home improvement plan. It helps to work with an architect, contractor and building department if the home improvement project includes building up or building out on the existing home. An architect and contractor can help put the home improvement project in financial and logistical perspective - whether building up or building out on the existing home is a possibility.
Renovation Projects – Perfection Is In The Eye Of The Homeowner
After spending a collective $200 billion on home improvement projects, many homeowners have discovered that punch list items often don't get fixed the way you'd like them, and even the best contractors make mistakes. All new homes and remodeling projects contain some items that either weren't finished properly, or punchlist items that weren't corrected. Repairing the mistakes after you've cleaned up and moved into the new or renovated portion of your home isn't fun.
Pitfalls of Building New Home
Do you want to build your dream house? Poor worksmanship can derail your plans, but a good home inspection can help you. Just because a new construction meets building codes doesn't mean the work is done to your standards. Have a home inspection done at several points in the building process.
Undisclosed Problem Surfaces Four Years After Purchase
A buyer asks if they have any options regarding an undisclosed problem that the sellers knew about. Buyers often have no recourse unless you can prove the sellers fraudulently deceived you. The time to catch undisclosed problems is at the time of the purchase with a good home inspector.