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A Review of Popular Ceiling Fan Manufacturers -
Nearly every residence has at least one ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are so common that many people have difficulty sleeping without one. Ceiling fans appear in bedrooms, living rooms, offices, warehouses, and porches. There are several reputable,...
Home Equity – Don’t Spend It On Risky Investments
The housing market has exploded in the last five years, and homeowners are finding that the equity in their homes is greater than it has ever been. The equity in a home is the difference between the market value of the home and the amount still owed...
PMI – Private Mortgage Insurance
For most homeowners, the pride of ownership includes a consistent home improvement effort. While this makes sense, be careful you don’t improve the property so much that you can’t recover the costs when it is sold.
Home Improvement
You’ve...
Pricing You Home To Sell
When it comes time to sell your home, settling on your list price is one of the most important decisions you will make. All sellers want to command the highest price possible, while all buyers, of course, want to buy a house for the lowest amount...
Quick And Easy Bathroom Decor Changes
Are you tired of the way your bathroom looks? Don't feel bad, a lot of folks are in the same boat. The bathroom is one room in the home that can look drab and run down very easily. And what if you don't have an unlimited budget to make changes in...
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How to Deal With Contractors
Not everyone is aware of how to deal with contractors. Imagine that your Home Improvement Loan has been granted. What do you do next? Do you rush out and find the first available contractor and offer them your cash? Not a good move.
Whether you're planning an addition for a growing family or simply getting new double-glazed windows, finding a competent and reliable contractor is the first step to a successful and satisfying home improvement project. Take your time to consider all your options. Do not rush into any agreement that you may later regret.
Your home may be your most valuable financial asset. That's why it's important to be cautious when you hire someone to work on it. Home improvement contractors often advertise in newspapers or the Yellow Pages. However, don't consider an advert to be an indication of the quality of a contractor's work. Your best bet is to find a contractor that has been used successfully by friends, family or colleagues. Get written estimates from several firms. Don't automatically choose the lowest bidder.
Above all, be wary of contractors who will:
solicit door-to-door
offer you discounts for finding other customers
just happens to have materials left over from a previous job
only accept cash payments
does not list a business number in the local telephone directory
pressure you for an immediate decision
offer exceptionally long guarantees
ask you to pay for the entire job up-front
Interview each contractor and ask:
How long have you been in business?
How many projects like mine have you completed?
Will my project require a permit?
May I have a list of references?
Will you be using subcontractors on this project?
What types of insurance do you carry?
Talk with some of the contractor's former customers and ask:
Can I visit your home to see the completed job?
Were you satisfied with the project?
Was it completed on time?
Did workers show up on time?
Did they clean up after finishing the job?
Would you recommend the contractor?
Would you use the contractor again?
You should not start any project without having a contact in place. A contract spells out the, who, what, where, when and cost of your project. The agreement should be clear, concise and complete. Before you sign a contract, make sure it contains:
The contractor's name, address, phone nubmer
The payment schedule for the contractor
An estimated start and completion date
How change orders will be handled
A detailed list of all materials
Warranties covering materials and workmanship
What the contractor will and will not do
Keep all paperwork related to your project in one place. This includes copies of the contract, change orders and correspondence with your home improvement professionals. You also might want to take photographs as the job progresses. These records are especially important if you have problems with your project — during or after construction.
Before you sign off and make the final payment check that:
All work meets the standards spelled out in the contract.
You have written warranties for materials and workmanship.
The job site has been cleaned up and cleared of excess materials, tools and equipment.
You have inspected and approved the completed work.
You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:
About the Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.
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| Lowe's Home Improvement |
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| "Home Improvement" (1991) |
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| Hometime: Home Improvement, Remodeling and Repair |
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| www.morepower.com |
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| Home Improvement Encyclopedia |
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| the home depot |
| www.homedepot.com/ - 2k - Cached - Similar pages |
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| Home Improvement - Do It Yourself - Home Remodeling | BobVila.com |
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| Energy Star Home Improvement Toolbox |
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| www.energystar.gov |
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| Home Tips: The Web's Most Helpful Home Improvement and Repair Site |
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| HGTV : Decorating, Remodeling, Home Improvement & Gardening Ideas ... |
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| www.hgtv.com |
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| www.diynetwork.com |
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| Home Improvement TV Show - Home Improvement Television Show - TV.com |
| Home Improvement TV Show, TV.com is your reference guide to Home Improvement Show. Episode guide, photos, videos, cast and crew information, forums, ... |
| www.tv.com |
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| Home Improvement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| From the outset of Season 2, Tim and Al would make a theme of a particular home improvement project or item on Tool Time by hosting a week long "salute" to ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Home Improvement Archive |
| Home Improvement Archive -- Episode Guide, scripts, articles, and much more! |
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| DIY Home Improvement, home repair Tips |
| DIY home improvement, remodeling, house repairs and maintainance Help Center...How To instructions for all your projects. |
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| Amazon.com: Home Improvement: Electrical, Plumbing, Hardware ... |
| Online shopping for Home Improvement from a great selection of Tools & Hardware; Electrical, Plumbing, Hardware, Heating & Cooling, Building Materials ... |
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| Home Improvement |
| AsktheBuilder.com: Build and remodel your home the right way. Learn how the master craftsmen of old built things to last. |
| www.askthebuilder.com |
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