Ten Tips For Hiring A Contractor

Article by: Steve Gillman

A very smart attorney I know paid $7,000 for a roof , Poison Oak Pleasures repair, only to have the roof , Advice about the most up-to-date help pertaining to faux woo leak the next time it rained. The contractor , What Organic Really Means stalled, made excuses, but never did a thing about it. Anyone can have these kinds of problems when having repairs , Need A House And Pet Sitter While You're Away But Think You or improvements , Orange Perennials For Your Garden done, but to make it less likely, avoid the folowing mistakes when hiring a contractor. , Interior Decorating and Home Decor With Inuit Art from the A

1. Not knowing what you want. If you don't know what you want, you might not like what you get. Also, if you change , Understanding Insulation your mind and change , Backyard Bird--The Catbird the job halfway through, the contract - and price - have changed (Hint: it won't get cheaper). Know clearly what you want done.

2. Not getting everything in writing. You don't want to hear, "I didn't say I was going to include the gutters."

3. Not having dates in the contract. Did you want it finished this year? You better have it in the contract.

4. Paying too much up front. A deposit may be a reasonable request when the contract is signed, and money for materials prior to the start date. Never pay in full before the job is finished.

5. Hiring unlicensed contractors. , How To Plant And Care For Geraniums Actually, this can be okay, if you know what you are doing (and he does). The license doesn't mean you get expertise, but it does mean you get leverage. A contractor , Yard Figurines will right his wrongs to avoid losing that license.

6. Hiring the first one in the phone , Interior Decorating and Home Decor With Inuit Art from the A book. Ask friends who had work done, or the owner of a hardware , Taking Care Your House Plants During Winter store. Find a recommendation based on a similar job to yours.

7. Thinking there will be no problems. Weather , Curtains, Windows and Feng Shui delays, employees quitting, and more will happen. Having problems is okay, but it's not okay if the contractor , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Philadelphia Pa. can't work out the issues to your satisfaction.

8. Expecting neatness. Believe it or not, it is sometimes efficient to leave things laying where they'll next be used. There will be messes, so prepare accordingly. Cover things if it will be a dusty job, for example. Also be clear in the contract that the jobsite will be cleaned up at the end of the job.

9. Not having penalties in the contract. This is important on large jobs. It's one thing to say "Work to be completed by May 2nd," but better to add, "$100 per day to be deducted from the contract price for each day the job is unfinished beyond May 2nd." That's what I call , Backyard Bird--The Catbird a motivational clause.

10. Thinking contracts will prevent problems. They help, but unreasonable people on either side of a contract can ignore them, or use "literal readings" to make things even worse. Find someone you can work with, and keep your eyes open.

About the Author

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house , Use of Fountains and Statuary in English Monastic Gardens he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

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