Knowing When (and How!) to Hire a Contractor
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Article by: ARA (ARA) - Did you ever take on a simple afternoon home , Oregano: Joy of the Mountain remodeling project, but instead it took days … or even weeks? Have you ever called in a contractor , Why you should consider organic gardening to fix what you started? Ever unintentionally turn your basement , Multi-Purpose Pond Pumps Ideal for Small Water Gardens into an indoor , A Quick Overview of Hotubs pool? According to the American Express Home , Inexpensive Leather and Leather-look Futon Covers Improvement Index, more than two-thirds of homeowners planning to do home , Front Load Washers – some facts before purchase Part 2 improvement projects in 2003 say they'll do the work themselves. But while going the do-it-yourself (DIY) route may save , Emerald Green Arborvitae for West Point Pa. time and/or money, homeowners should carefully evaluate the project's scope and decide whether they really can do it themselves. "Many professional remodelers say they've been called in by a homeowner when a DIY project their spouse has been working on runs into problems," says Nina Patel, senior editor of Remodeling Magazine. "One of the reasons is the prevalence of home , Why you should consider organic gardening remodeling TV shows. They make everything look so simple and a lot of people get in over their heads." So when do you know to say "when"? Before committing to any DIY project, the experts at Moen Incorporated recommend using the "Three T" system to gauge which home , Details Of Lawn Mower Batteries projects you can do yourself , Gardens and Fountains in the Dark Ages and which ones require the help of a professional. These "T's" include time, tools , Inexpensive Leather and Leather-look Futon Covers and temperament. Time One of the biggest factors in determining if you should hire a contractor , It's Party Time - Let's Decorate! is the amount of time you can devote to a project. If you work full-time and want to spend your weekends on the golf course, simple projects might be the best for you to tackle. If you don't mind the hassles of an ongoing "job site", have a very patient family, and can put in the hours required, you may select a more difficult job. Tools Do you have the right tools , Home Loans for Credit Challenged Borrowers to complete the job? If you have to go out and purchase a welding , Herbs For A Spaghetti Garden machine, band saw or some other expensive power tool , Creative Decorating Ideas Using Old Windows that you will never use again, it might be more cost effective to hire a contractor. , Oregano: Joy of the Mountain Do your skills , Why You Should Always Have Garden Furniture match the tools , Love to garden but short on money? Here’s 10 money saving id required for the job? Cutting mitered joints, welding , Learn Some Feng Shui Guidelines For Your Children's Room and installing main plumbing , Gardens and Fountains in the Dark Ages lines requires know-how and experience. Can you hang drywall, solder pipe or run electrical wire? If not, easy decorative projects, such as painting , Top 10 Questions to Ask a Builder before Buying a Swimming P or changing a light , Rose Gardening In Late Fall fixture, might be more your speed. Another important consideration is whether or not you have the physical strength to use larger tools , Multi-Purpose Pond Pumps Ideal for Small Water Gardens and do the job. For example, wrestling with a two-man powered auger to dig holes for deck , Orchids – Growing Exotic Beauty At Home posts and hauling the lumber into position are physically demanding tasks. It is best to be safe , Herbs For A Spaghetti Garden rather than sorry when it comes to using the proper tools , Top 10 Questions to Ask a Builder before Buying a Swimming P to keep your health. Temperament When problems with the job arise (as they always seem to) will you be shaken or ready to deal with them? If you have a difficult time handling the hassles and stresses that are an inevitable part of a home , Why you should consider organic gardening improvement project, once again, the contractor , Planning Your In-Wall Speaker System route may be better for you. Planning After you've evaluated the job based on the "Three T" system, do a cost comparison to determine what you save , Know Your Yellow Roses! in labor , What You Need to Know About Planting Roses by doing it yourself , Planning Your In-Wall Speaker System versus the cost of a professional (by they way, you may want to figure in having it done right the first time). Since labor , ?’m A Leaf Thief And A Composting King can account for up to 60 percent of a remodeling job's cost, you always save , A Great Shrub For Bristol Township- The Burning Bush money by going the DIY route. But, if your project won't pass local , Front Load Washers – some facts before purchase Part 2 building codes, you may end up paying more in the long run to correct errors. Also, according to Patel, doing it yourself , Oregano: Joy of the Mountain could take three to four times as long as calling in an expert. Therefore, a room , Creative Decorating Ideas Using Old Windows such as a kitchen , Decorating with Table Fountains or bath may not be usable for an extended period of time, resulting in showering at your in-laws and other inconveniences for awhile. Simple DIY Jobs Don't fret. There are many jobs most homeowners (even those without much ‘fix-it savvy') should be able to handle. These include painting, , Multi-Purpose Pond Pumps Ideal for Small Water Gardens replacing outdated lighting fixtures, hanging a picture, staining, replacing door , A Great Shrub For Bristol Township- The Burning Bush locks or cabinet pulls, repairing a screen or installing molding. According to Gary Pember, Moen Incorporated Director of Bath Marketing, changing out the showerhead is one of the easier jobs homeowners can do themselves. Simply using channel locks, , How To Grow Red Oak Trees Near Horsham, PA unscrew the old showerhead, place , The tricks you need to know about welding. a little Teflon tape over the threads, and screw , Garden Sheds - More Than a Storage Area on a new model such as Moen's Revolution. This unique showerhead offers a range of settings from a rain-like shower , Getting Your Electrician License to a deep, therapeutic massage; and provides all this for under $60 and in less than five minutes. Another option is to upgrade to a new Moen faucet, such as the new traditionally styled Kingsley line. This is an easy project that immediately pays off since it brings a new level of elegance to the bath. Changing out a lav faucet is a moderate-level DIY project. In fact, the hardest part of installing a new faucet is removing the old unit which may have become corroded or rusty. It's here a little WD-40 goes a long way! And, if you choose a faucet with the new M- PACT common valve system, you'll be able to update or change , It's Party Time - Let's Decorate! the style of the faucet trim in just minutes without having to go under the sink. Pember notes that other simple jobs to enhance a bath include installing new accessories , Create Your Own Special Herb Garden such as towel bars and paper holders, and changing shower , Popularity Of Patio Heaters Increases Year on Year curtains, hanging new pictures or adding a new set of towels. Painting is another quick and easy decorative change , Creative Decorating Ideas Using Old Windows that is very cost effective for any room , Emerald Green Arborvitae for West Point Pa. as well as for the exterior of your home. , Decorating with Table Fountains When to Call , Oregano: Joy of the Mountain in a Contractor , Getting Your Electrician License Still need help? Certainly some of the home , Tree and Shrub Care Programs improvement jobs best left to the professionals include any electrical work and major plumbing , The Nigra Arborvitae Grows Well In New Hope Pa. projects, such as installing a new shower , Emerald Green Arborvitae for West Point Pa. system or adding onto a room. , The Gardener, the Salsa, and a Day at the Ranch Other jobs usually requiring contractor , The Gardener, the Salsa, and a Day at the Ranch expertise include installing a fireplace, adding a skylight, finishing a basement, , Multi-Purpose Pond Pumps Ideal for Small Water Gardens adding a deck, , CONSTRUCTION LOAN BASICS repairing a roof , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Township Pa. or installing gutters and downspouts. "A hidden benefit to hiring a contractor , Learn Some Feng Shui Guidelines For Your Children's Room is that he or she can tell you if there are any other problems in your house , Learn Some Feng Shui Guidelines For Your Children's Room that you should be aware of. For instance, when estimating or beginning work, a contractor , Decorating with Table Fountains might find structural damage or potential plumbing , Germinating Seeds Hydroponically problems that you may not have caught on your own," notes Patel. What to Look for in a Contractor , Germinating Seeds Hydroponically If you do decide to hire a contractor, , Easter Lilies, and the Number One Gardening Question Right Now it is important to find the right one. First, start by asking friends and neighbors for recommendations. The city in which you live should also be able to provide a list of local , Decorating with Table Fountains recommended contractors. , A Great Shrub For Bristol Township- The Burning Bush When you have narrowed the list, ask two or three contractors , CONSTRUCTION LOAN BASICS to come to your house , Creative Decorating Ideas Using Old Windows to survey the job and provide a written quote that includes a materials list. The contract should spell out the scope of the project, any items that are excluded and the payment terms. It is also important to get in writing an expected time of start and completion. Compare contractor , Home Loans for Credit Challenged Borrowers prices, but remember the lowest quote isn't always the first one you want to take. It is imperative to check into work they've already completed by speaking with references, asking to see photos of past work and ascertaining whether they finished projects on time and on budget. If they can't (or won't) supply references, ask yourself , The Answer Lies In The Soil why -- and move onto another craftsman. Another option is to call , Oregano: Joy of the Mountain the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have ever been filed against your potential contractors. , How To Care For Your Encastic Tiled Floor Make sure the contractor , Creative Decorating Ideas Using Old Windows you select is licensed, , Top 10 Questions to Ask a Builder before Buying a Swimming P bonded and insured. Your city will be able to tell you if he or she is licensed , Child Safety to work in your area, and your contractor , Rose Gardening In Late Fall should be able to provide an insurance policy copy. "Believe it or not, it is very important to find a contractor , Front Load Washers – some facts before purchase Part 2 who has a personality you can work with and develop some type of rapport," says Patel. "You want someone you feel comfortable asking questions and who will listen to your concerns. Not to mention the contractor , Rose Gardening In Late Fall and his or her crew may be practically living with you for a few days, so you will want to feel at ease in their presence." There you have it -- everything you need to know about assessing the difficulty of a home , Learn Some Feng Shui Guidelines For Your Children's Room improvement project and whether you should call , Create Your Own Special Herb Garden in a contractor. , A Great Shrub For Bristol Township- The Burning Bush Now, go put those skills , Planning Your In-Wall Speaker System into practice! For more information , Organic Gardening: Going Back to the Basics about Moen products, , Learn Some Feng Shui Guidelines For Your Children's Room contact Moen Incorporated at 25300 Al Moen Drive, North Olmsted, OH 44070-8022, call , What You Need to Know About Planting Roses toll free (800) BUY MOEN (289-6636) or visit its Web , What You Need to Know About Planting Roses site at www.moen.com. Courtesy of ARA Content About the author: Courtesy of ARA Content |
  
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