Remodeling Articles, DIY How-Tos and Product Reviews

We learn many things in school; math, science, history, computers etc. Maybe that is why the largest number of complaints with attorney generals nationwide is against home improvement contractors. We just have never been taught how to hire a contractor. If you follow the guidelines listed below you have a better than average chance of hiring the right contractor and making your home improvement a success.

1. Does the contractor have a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax Identification numbers and where applicable a contractors license. (Beware of cell phones, P.O. Boxes and people working from their garage at home. Remember anyone can put a ladder on their pick up and call themselves a contractor)

2. How long has the contractor been in business?

3. Does the contractor guarantee their work? For how long and be sure it is in writing.

4. Determine what your needs are, for example if shopping for windows what are your heating as well as cooling bills this will help to determine what glass package will suit your needs.

5. Verify the contractors insurance, liability as well as workman’s compensation.

6. If your project requires a permit the contractor should apply for it. (In Massachusetts this is very important as there is a guarantee fund to compensate homeowners for unpaid judgments up to $10,000 but a permit must be obtained by a licensed contractor to be eligible.)

7. All agreements and oral promises regarding a home improvement project should be put in writing to protect both the customer and the contractor.

8. A thorough description of the work to be done-specifying all materials as well as a description of labor. Note: to insure that you receive the Manufacturers warranties the labor description should have wording stating all work done according to manufacturer specifications

9. Payment Schedule: Note never pay the entire job in advance. Try and limit your down payment and make payments contingent upon completion of a defined amount of work.

10. What the contractor will and will not do. For example, is site clean up and trash hauling included in the price?

11. Do not automatically choose the lowest price. One contractor’s bid might be higher because the materials to be used are of a better quality or because the work will be especially thorough and therefore, require more time and labor.

12. Know who you are dealing with: Doing business with a contractor who has a good reputation for doing the job right, in an ethical manner, at a reasonable cost is the ideal situation for the homeowner. But how do you know this? Name recognition and high visibility do not necessarily equate to good business. The best method of obtaining the knowledge is by word of mouth. Talk to people who have used the services of the contractor you are considering may prove invaluable. Any successful and reputable contractor can and will give you these sources. Ask for a list of referrals of past customers that you may contact. Contact a few and ask them about their project and the company and how everything went. Were they on time, did they clean up, any service issues since then and did the company respond in a timely manner?

Information on windows specifically can be found at nfrc.org the organization that tests and rates all windows in the United States and the efficientwindows.org

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