10 Tips for Working With a Contractor

Article by: Debbie Rodgers

This is the year you're going all out. You're going to build a deck, , Like Fall Flowers - A Tip To Care For Your Winter Garden Pond add a porch, , Poor Man's Concrete erect a gazebo or lay a patio. , When replacing a fountain pump or choosing a new one, first there are some key terms to keep in mind You've done the research. It's well within your capability and you're looking forward to the satisfaction of creating a structure of beauty.

Or not. Yes -- you'd like to proceed with an outdoor , Saving money on European travel with rail passes structure but for you, it isn't a do-it-yourself project. How can you find the right person to do it for you? Here are 10 tips , It's Party Time - Let's Decorate! for hiring and working with a contractor. , Planting And Care Of Shrubs

1. Plan your project carefully. Clip pictures, make sketches, write a description. This will help you accurately convey to the contractor , How to Replace Worn-out Cushions what you want the finished product , The importance of proper soil chemistry to a healthy garden to be.

2. Make a list of contractors. , Orchid Care: How Orchids Grow Ask your neighbors or friends for the names of reputable tradesmen. Contact material suppliers -- lumberyards, for example -- and ask for recommendations.

3. Get at least three written bids for the project, but don't give in to the temptation to automatically accept the lowest bid. A higher bid may be worth the price in better materials, workmanship and reliability. If you get a very low bid, the contractor , Black Haw Viburnums will grow in New Hope Pa. may have made a mistake or forgotten to bid on everything you wanted. If they have deliberately low-bid, they may use cheaper materials or take shortcuts to make a profit.

4. Many states and provinces require registration and/or licensing. For the USA, www.nationalcontractors.com provides a starting point for your state and type of construction. Click on Verify Contractors , Saving money on European travel with rail passes License. If licences are required in your jurisdiction, be certain to ask to see your contractor's licences and be sure that it's not expired.

5. Ask for references and then check them out. Look at the projects and ask the previous clients if they are satisfied with the quality of work done, if it was started and completed on schedule and if it is complete.

6. Get a signed, written contract and be sure you understand it. The Construction Contractors , Tips For Acid Loving Plants Board of Oregon claims that the single biggest cause of homeowner-contractor disputes is the written contract: not having one, having a poor one, or having one everyone ignores. A good contract should include:

The company name, address (not a post office box) & phone , A Look at International Flower Delivery number, the name of the builder, contractor , Shower Walls - Problems and Solutions and licence number, if applicable
A detailed project description
A materials list
A statement that all necessary permits and inspections are the responsibility of the contractor , Choosing The Best Plants For Your Garden
Starting and completion dates
Warranties of workmanship, the length of the warranty, and specifically what's covered and what's not
Contractor's guarantee that he carries liability insurance and worker's compensation coverage
A statement that clean-up will be done by the contractor , Double Glazing
The total price and payment schedule
- Be wary of hourly, time and materials or cost-plus pricing where the final price is not determined until completion of the project. Although it may seem higher, a fixed price may give you the best protection and price.
- Be cautious about upfront payments for more than 15% of the contract price.
- The schedule and criteria for each instalment should be clearly defined in the contract.
- Any instalments should be not be required on a certain date, but correlated to work completion.
- Do not pay cash. A reputable builder will ask for a check.

7. Make any changes , Pruning the Backyard Grapevine to the project in writing with a "work order change" to avoid misunderstandings and surprises.

8. Keep pets and children away from the construction site. This will ensure not only their safety, , Six Good Reasons For Going Organic but also that of the workers. In addition, it helps keep the project on schedule.

9. Inspect the work regularly.

10. Pay directly and promptly according to the contract.

Above all, you should feel comfortable communicating with your contractor. , Lighter Fluid: The Best Label and Scuff Mark Remover If you sense he is being evasive when you are getting a quote, it won't get any better during the construction period. Find someone you understand and who understands you, and who is open and forthright.

Working with a contractor , Wall Oven - A Necessity For The Disabled takes a little preparation, but following these steps is well worth it. Are you looking forward to your new outdoor , About Window Ledge Gardening space?

Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, , Solar Lights for Walkways - Cut Costs and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor , Like Fall Flowers - A Tip To Care For Your Winter Garden Pond living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web , Saving money on European travel with rail passes at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on "Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor , Interior Design Simply Means Personalizing Your Interior Env space". Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com

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