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Room Additions

5 Key Tips For Hiring The Right Contractor For Your Home Remodeling Project

Hiring the right home renovation contractor really is an “inside job” that requires thoughtful research on the part of the homeowner. Folks who are considering renovating their homes this year should plan first on getting educated about hiring the right contractor for their project and understanding their rights.
The fact is that home improvement has consistently ranked at the top for consumer dissatisfaction and fraud according to various consumer agencies. With little accountability on the part of the home improvement industry, it becomes the homeowners’ responsibility to get educated and informed so they don’t become a victim of an unscrupulous contractor.
This much needed education focuses on the “pre-renovation” process, which centers on doing research that reveals background information on the contractor such as his/her business ethics, legal history, reputation and competence in handling your project. Skip this step and you risk getting involved with the wrong contractor and worse, a home remodeling nightmare.
The following 5 tips are critical steps any homeowner should do first regardless of the size and scope of their project. Hiring a roofing company to install a new roof or an electrician to upgrade and rewire the home can prove to be disastrous if you choose poorly.
The following tips will provide the consumer with key information about the contractors’ ethics and willingness to be transparent:
* Conduct background checks that include uncovering relevant lawsuits, any small claims court filings, mechanics lien history, credit standing with suppliers and licensing history if required by your state.
* Conduct a thorough interview, asking key questions around customer care, problem solving, safety issues, working with city inspectors, knowledge of code compliance, who will supervise your project and how much time they’ll spend, and how they handle unexpected surprises.
* State in writing that you require Lien Releases at the time of each payment (in writing as part of the contract) from all subs/suppliers for work performed and material supplied to date.
* Create a thoroughly written specifications sheet and contract with every single detail spelled out, including key clauses to protect yourself and reviewed by a construction law or contract attorney.
* Get in writing – as part of your contract – start and stop dates and hours of working time on your project: specify days- Monday through Friday, hours such as 7am – 3:30pm. This ensures that the contractor is committed to completing your project on time, has the crew to perform and is serious about his business. Signing on the dotted line to this commits him to adhering to the contract and that’s a good sign.
Implementing these steps will help to protect you from hiring an unethical contractor. A contractor who is willing to be transparent in his/her business practices and competency is whom you want to hire.
With thoughtful insight and due diligence, hiring a contractor you respect and whose work you appreciate makes it all worth it and in the end you’re rewarded with a positive experience and a great working relationship with your contractor.

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Kitchen Remodel

The Right Choice of Cabinets for Your Kitchen

One of the most important parts of the household today is the kitchen. The kitchen is the place where most of the family gathers to eat scrumptious meals. It is one of the essential places for family bonding. As a homeowner you would want to have the best equipment possible in your kitchen. All the equipment in a kitchen would start with the cabinets and the countertops. Cabinets and countertops make the kitchen look stylish. Not only do they add on to the look factor of the kitchen but they also increase the utility as they can be used to hold different types of kitchen utensils and articles.
There are a number of tips that every home owner should consider before buying a kitchen countertop or cabinet. One should first consider the space required by the cabinet or the counter top. Consider the total area available in your kitchen. Consider the amount of space that will be taken up by the cabinet pr the countertop. The cabinet will help you to organize the clutter in your kitchen however you should not get something that will obstruct normal movement in your kitchen. Your kitchen should be arranged in such a way that you can get around easily without any constrictions. Therefore you should make sure that you get a counter top of an appropriate size for your kitchen. Also look for one that will help you to save maximum space in your kitchen. The one that looks good and has good utility will be a perfect combination. If you have a small kitchen then you can still get a tall cabinet which will maximize the usefulness of the space that you have.
You will have a lot of flexibility on the types of cabinets that you would place in your kitchen. The kitchen cabinets come in various shapes and sizes. You can choose one that would suit your kitchen perfectly. If you are however not able to find the kitchen cabinet that would best suit your kitchen, you can still get a customized kitchen cabinet for yourself. This can cost you more than your regular sized cabinets but you will at least get one that perfectly fits your kitchen and meets your requirement. After all, what is the point in paying for something that would come of no use to you? You can pay a little extra and get one that exactly fits your needs.
If you don’t have any budget issues then you should go for a designer cabinet or countertop. This would really make your kitchen look grand. When you are buying such a countertop you can check through the various collections of countertops available in different material and make your choice. There are many ways that this will help. If you have an old home that you are planning to sell and upgrade but are not getting a good value for your home, a simple option is to upgrade just your kitchen alone with a countertop or a cabinet that will increase the value of your home.

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Home Improvement Contractors

How To Choose The Right Home Improvement Contractor

Home renovation is a $300 billion industry in the US. There is such a vast number of home improvement contractors operating in the market that it becomes difficult to choose the right contractor for your residential improvement or remodeling needs. If you want to save yourself from a terrible experience of hiring an inefficient service company or contractor, follow a few simple steps to get the best people on-board to work on one of your most prized assets.
Steps To Choosing a Home Improvement Contractor
Here are a few steps that you should take before finding a reliable home improvement contractor.
1. Make A List Of Improvements: Your first step should be the creation of a thorough list of every improvement that you wish to make in your home. Make sure you include all the areas and be sure how you want everything to appear after it is all finished.
2. Research: This is one of the most important steps in deciding the right improvement contractor. Online researching is highly recommended, since it allows you to save a lot of time, money and energy. Look for an improvement and renovation service provider with accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or other such licensing boards.
3. Word-Of-Mouth: Ask for references from people who have used the services of the home improvement industry and are happy with the results. You can also ask for references of former clients from the companies during your research. The customer references will help you get an idea of the type of work done by each company.
4. Take Free Estimates: Contact different home improvement contractors who provide all the facilities required to renovate, reconstruct, or improve your residence. Request the companies for a free estimate and full price quote.
5. Contractor Insurance: Check if the contractor has proof of some kind of insurance in. Insurance helps you in case of an accident or a problem. Most reputable contractors provide insurance provisions to their customers to avoid any unforeseen expenses.
6. Compare Candidates: After consulting potential home improvement contractors, narrow down your options and decide whom you want to work with. Keeping in mind their availability, the price quoted and client testimonials, you can pin point the best professional service provider.