Residential Home Improvement Contractors

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. If you are thinking of improving your home, it is really important to evaluate your budget and really know what kind of improvements will fit your finances and overall lifestyle the best. It is also important to know exactly what results you want to achieve. A simple example would be the choice of colors in a room. If you are looking to paint a part of your house, it is necessary to be aware of the mood you are trying to create in that room and to chose colors that will keep you satisfied for more than a couple of weeks.
In the last couple of years, the phenomenon DIY, also known as "Do It Yourself", has imposed itself on the home improvement market. As much as this solution might sound very appealing to some people, if major elements are involved, your best solution may be to contact a contractor. Every home improvement project, as simple as it can be, can be very time consuming and it is important to have a certain construction and decoration knowledge before trying to do everything by yourself, which is why getting help from a contractor can help you explore options that you might not know existed.
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.