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Learn the different things you can do to your home which add value. Forget about adding a pool, it won’t hold the investment you have to spend to have one installed. The best laces to look are your bathroom and kitchen, after to upgrade those rooms next would be the bedrooms. Like adding another one or two depending the demand in your area? You can find this out by asking your local realtor.

Fixing up your home can be fun and often times very profitable even when you’re only doing a few easy home improvement projects. Home improvement projects can improve the look and value of your home dramatically. Many of us avoid home improvement projects due to their expense. And it can become expensive! Do your homework and you should not experience any surprises!

There are many things to ask yourself when looking to increase the value of your home through home improvement projects. One of the neat tricks you can do when creating some easy home improvement projects is to add some trim around the top of your ceiling. Like crown molding, which really enriches the beauty of any home.

After you have decided on and planned for your first home improvement projects, new window coverings and upgraded flooring should receive attention along with Interior painting and exterior painting. Also, at Home Depot they have a section of books on literally any home improvement projects you can imagine. Leave the landscaping for the end, this would be your final step.

Also, you will want to be practical when deciding on your home improvement! You can very easily waste money, where money is not needed. For example, If your fence is in dire need of repair, don’t think that by painting it you will hide the real problem. You need a new fence, period!

Here are some things to think about before you say go!

1) Does your home improvement project add space, function or added benefits to the area?

2) Does the home improvement project make the area more attractive, not only to you but to others?

3) Does the home improvement project make significant positive changes to the home?

Each of these things is something to take into consideration. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t properly plan ahead, don’t have the budget to cover the costs and re-mortgage their homes or take out other home improvement loans to help.

Many landscaping projects can be done throughout the year but it can be easier and more enjoyable during the summer. Families that have allergies or respiratory problems should be careful about what chemicals may have been used in the manufacture of finished products. Allowing problems to remain increases the risk of damage to your house.

Some people use home improvement as a creative outlet, and if it makes you happy then go for it! I personally enjoy making repairs around the house knowing the job is getting done right! But, if that isn’t your cup of tea, then once go with a professional, you should get multiple quotes before making your choice of who to use. The fact is that home improvement debts are easily avoided by simple planning.

Once all the work is completed you will be very happy with the end results of all your hard work.

Clifton Waldrep

http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/a-home-improvement-project-139327.html

Hiring a good contractor is the key to a successful (and minimally stressful) building project. Whether it is your home, office or an even larger project, the contractor you select will determine the outcome of your original plan. Although there are many highly skilled contractors, there are just as many who do not live up to the claims they make about themselves. In order to avoid hiring an under qualified contractor, you need to use the same set of criteria to evaluate every contractor that you may eventually hire. To help you with this process, here are five traits that you need to look for in any potential contractor candidate:

1) References: Reference are the easiest way to narrow down your list of contractors. If a contractor cannot produce at least three references, you should eliminate them as a choice for your project. For the contractors that do give you references, you should take the time to contact these individuals. Previous references can give you an honest opinion about the contractor’s level of skill, reliability and any other issues that you may have overlooked.

2) Networking: If a contractor has a strong network of reliable subcontractors, your project will progress much faster. This is because a well connected contractor will not have to waste time searching and waiting for unknown subcontractors . The easiest way to find out whether or not a contractor has a solid network is to talk with them about the subcontractors that they normally use to complete different tasks. You can even request that the contractor give you a list of their usual subcontractors.

3) Reliability: Although this was mentioned in the first tip, reliability is so important that it needs to be reemphasized. If you hire a contractor that is not reliable, the task of building your dream home or office is going to turn into a nightmare. To avoid a long, frustrating building project, make sure that you talk to the contractor’s references about how reliable the contractor was during previous projects. If you have any doubts about the reliability of a potential contractor, you should move on and find a more suitable candidate.

4) Competitive Pricing: Your contractor’s rates can be an excellent gauge of their skill. If a quote is extremely low, the quality of the contractor is most likely poor. However, an extremely high price does not guarantee above average quality. Many of the best contractors charge prices that fall in the middle of the scale. The best way to find the reasonable price range for your project is to obtain quotes from a wide variety of contractors. Once you have these quotes, you can find your optimal price range by comparing the quotes to the contractors’ reputation.

5) Personality: This may not be the most important trait of the contractor you hire, but you should at least take it into consideration. If you are thinking about hiring a contractor that has a personality which clashes with yours, you should try to find a contractor that is more compatible with you. You will be communicating with your contractor quite a bit, and if you cannot stand them, your building project is going to be an unpleasant experience.

Joshua Dundrin

http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/the-top-five-traits-of-an-excellent-contractor-97741.html

Technorati Tags: home improvement contractor

It’s all finally over now and you can rest back with a cup of steaming coffee in your hands and a contented smile on your face. It took you a lot of time, money and stress, but you got through it with flying colors and you can appreciate your newly redecorated home with great pride. All those home improvement tips you found in the various magazines came in handy after all.

A thought comes to you and you bound out of the chair and head for the corner where you went and stashed all your magazines. There were about two knee-high stacks worth of these magazines and you didn’t know what to do with them.

You might have thought about giving them to a charity or something like that, but you hadn’t bothered. But now, when you realized just how useful those improvement tips had been, you were struck by what you can only call brilliance. Since all the home improvement tips had come in handy once, couldn’t it do so again?

Considering this to be likely, and since you now had time on your hands to start a new project, you get started immediately sorting through the magazines and cutting out the home improvement tips to put into a binder with clear pockets. That would make your life much easier when you eventually succumbed to the decorating bug again.

And having done it once and learned from your mistakes and enjoyed yourself immensely into the bargain, you’re pretty sure there’s a good chance that you’ll be at it again before the season is out. And since these home improvement tips definitely wouldn’t date you could use them time and again, only changing the things here and there which might need it.

Basically though, the home improvement tips would come in good stead for you when you did your redecorating jaunt again. Besides, since most of these handy home improvement tips were suitable for small-budget d’cor changes they were all the more welcome for you.

And one thing that you could be certain of almost one hundred percent was that by the time you got through compiling your folder of handy home improvement tips, everyone you knew would want to borrow it. Especially after they saw how well your own redecorating attempts had fared. There’s nothing like the knowledge of a job well done to bring a sense of satisfaction to your mind.

So, if you want, a good home improvement tip would be to cut and store carefully all those home improvement tips that you find in magazines for a future date when you may want to use it. Besides, it makes a great conversational piece when you have the girls over for coffee!

John Pawlett

http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/home-improvement-tips-89366.html

Technorati Tags: Home Improvement Contractors

Building Contractors are those specialized people to be consulted when embarking upon a new construction or a home improvement project. These contractors have the most current knowledge of building codes and laws, construction methodologies, architectural design and materials and labor.

There are contractors for practically any type of job like remodeling, interior specialists, exterior specialists, new buildings designers, utilities and service/repairs. Before hiring one, it is always better to ensure they are appropriately licensed and both are bound by a mutual agreement.

Normally you enter into an agreement with these contractors to build or improve your project according to certain specifications, within a certain amount of time and a budget. You should be able to talk to your contractors freely about the cost and deadline for a certain project, to ensure that all expectations will be met.

In general, big building contractors sometimes have to work with real estate developers, Cities and State governing bodies for housing developments, roads and office buildings. Whereas home contractors will work with you to determine the specifications of your project, the amount of money you would like to spend, what materials you wish to use and the length of construction time.

Building contractors are normally hired to construct a building or a house right from foundation upto its completion. Building a deck or pool, remodeling the bathroom or kitchen, or adding a bedroom are all jobs that require home contractors.

While Building Contractors are required to provide amenities like Parking Lots, Playgrounds and Recreation centers, Swimming pools, Gymnasiums, Amphitheatres, Shopping centers etc depending on the type of assignment. Sometimes owners can accomplish such projects on their own, but finding qualified contractors ensures that the project will be finished on time and within the budget.

Many times these contractors hire specialized subcontractors for specific tasks like Carpentry, Electrical, Fencing, Floor Covering, Heating and Ventilation, Landscaping, Masonry, Plumbing, Painting, Water Proofing etc. to get more experienced physical labor and complete according to plans within the deadline.

All your communications will be through your building contractor, who will then delegate responsibility and tasks to their team of professionals. Since this involves lot of money it is better to hire the best contractor. See photos of completed projects or read testimonials of the contractor’s work, to make sure he is good. Many people find contractors through word of mouth or in newspaper ads, but with the popularity of the internet, you can easily find websites that list experienced, licensed contractors.

Some States even provide The Contractor’s Recovery Fund which compensates owners or renters of property, who have lost money due to a licensed contractor’s fraudulent, deceptive or dishonest practices, diversion of funds or failure of performance.

Namsing Then

http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-building-contractors-62807.html

Technorati Tags: building contractors, handyman, painting contractors, plumbing contractor

If you have ever done any type of major remodeling or construction to an existing home then you know how tough and confusing it can be. This is especially true if you have an idea of what you want but you don’t know where to begin or how to start.

Now, imagine how confusing it can be when you are building a whole house! Remodeling your kitchen may have seemed difficult, but wait until you have to make decisions on a new construction home.

Building a home can be both exciting and nerve wracking. You have the great ideas of how the house will look like once it’s done, but how do you even get the ground broke? This is why it is key to find a contractor that will work with you rather than against you. First you will want to begin by looking at several different contractors and getting a feel for what is available. Generally, each contractor has their own set floor plans while others are more than happy to help you build a custom home. All contractors should have the proper licensing, bonding and insurance. Be certain that you get proof of these things before hiring any contractor or subcontractor.

Next you will need to sign an agreement. All contracting agreements should be in writing as that is your only protection when it comes to getting what you want in the home you are building. If your builder doesn’t do what you want or a serious problem occurs and you feel you need to sue, then the contract is going to be imperative for you to win the case. You don’t have anything to stand on without a contract. This is also the only way to track how the project is progressing.

When building your own home you may also be able to save some money by purchasing your own fixtures. You can pick out exactly what you want and the contractor will install it. Be sure to have the cost of installation noted in your contract as well. If you do choose to purchase your own fixtures then you are making yourself responsible for getting those items to the job site when the contractor is ready to install it.

A knowledgeable contractor is essential when it comes to building a house. They will tell you where to start, how it’s going to be done and even give you advice on where to find your fixtures, countertops, brick, tile, etc. This is not an easy task to do on your own and the experience of a professional is a necessity.

Scott Hubbard
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/building-your-own-home-114802.html

I write this article with some real specific experience on dealing with contractors and their subs. I have, in the past 30 years, had built 3 homes and renovated probably 10. With each of these projects I learned more and more lessons and with each asked my friends and family just to take a gun and shoot me if I ever even spoke of doing either again. My last experience in having a home built ended in a major cost overrun which taught me the legal lesson of the difference between the words “will” and “should”. You see my iron clad contract which made all of the provisions I requested and guaranteed the finished price stated that the final price “SHOULD NOT EXCEED X $$”. $40,000 later I discovered it should have said, “WILL NOT EXCEED X $$”. The word “will” affirming the agreement while the word “should” infers some sense of a possibility of the price changing and changing it did ending in a final demand by the contractor for the aforementioned $40,000 before I could move into the home. While most home contractors out there are legitimate and do great work, the list of nightmare contractors is long and represents thousands of lost dollars and a myriad of disappointments. To avoid hiring the contractor from hell I offer the following advice:

1. Make plans

Before you begin your process of locating, interviewing, investigating and hiring a contractor you should have a completed set of plans for your project including detailed drawings and specifications. Without these plans in place you are asking a tradesman to bid on a nebulous non specific job and you are asking for trouble. A conscientious contractor will want not only a complete set of blueprints but also a sense of what homeowners want out of a project and what they plan to spend. Once these plans are in place, stick to them. Making changes to plans after work begins could lead to cost overruns and delays.

2. Get recommendations

Start with your friends, family and neighbors. Check with the national associations of the trade that you wish to hire for a list of members in your area, Angie’s List, which is an on going internet site which lists real personal recommendations and warnings in your specific area, and maybe check an individual business with the Better Business Bureau. I hesitate to mention the BBB because this is an organization of paid members which in some cases may also skew their results. In smaller areas you may also talk with a building inspector, who should know which contractors routinely meet code requirements and may be able to give you advice regarding code requirements. Visit your local building supply or hardware store, they know the local contractors and which ones have the best reputations. Although most of the big box stores do have professionals that either they recommend or that they can sell you the services of, remember they are being recommended because of an existing relationship with the store. The store is likely making a profit on your transaction and thus their opinion may be skewed. In some cases you may have recourse back to the store but make sure that is the case and be aware that this arrangement may cause your cost to be higher. I have heard many horror stories about the contractor who was hired through the retailer only to disappoint the customer and satisfaction only coming after considerable effort if at all.

3. Call your prospective Contractors

Now that you have a list of possible contractors, consider that you are an employer interviewing a prospective employee. Make calls to each of your prospects and ask them the questions that you feel are important to you which should include the following: •Do they take on projects of your size? •Are they willing to provide references from suppliers or banks? •Will they give you a list of previous clients? Remember, though, they are not going to give you names of dissatisfied customers so you are going to have to do some of your own research on their work. •How many other projects do they typically have going at the same time? •Do they maintain their own tradesmen or do they have to depend on subcontractors? If they have to use subs you may be put in a position of having to research their reputations as well. Sub contractors can be the weakest link in the chain of getting your project done and are the easiest excuse your contractor can use for a lack of progress or delays on your job. It is important, therefore, that the contractor have a good relationship with his subs and is good with his scheduling of those subs. These answers should give you an idea of the company’s availability, reliability, how much attention they’ll be able to give your project and how smoothly the work will go.

4. Invite them over to see your job

Once you have made these phone calls, pick three or four contractors to show them your proposed project, to obtain an estimate and for further discussion and questions. A contractor should be able to answer your questions satisfactorily and in a manner that puts you at ease. It’s important that you feel comfortable with the contractor you choose, that you communicate well and that you have a sense of trust. Remember this person and their crews will be in your home for hours at a time.

5. Build trust by verifying the facts

Call up former clients to find how their project went and ask if you can see the finished job. Ask if they know of other customers of this contractor so that you can find additional references that didn’t come from the contractor himself. You should ask to see a current job site and see for yourself how the contractor works. Is the job site neat and safe? Are workers courteous and careful with the homeowner’s property and is this homeowner happy, so far, with his results?

6. Demand proof of proper licensing and insurance

Make sure the contractor is licensed to do business in your state and that he has proper general liability and workers-compensation insurance. Learn the requirements in your state and verify that contractor is licensed.

7. Get bids

To compare bids, ask everyone to break down the cost of materials, labor, profit margins and other expenses. Generally materials account for 40 percent of the total cost; the rest covers overhead and the typical profit margin, which is 15 to 20 percent. Don’t let price be your guide. I believe, that as hard as it is to do, you should disregard the lowest bid especially if it is significantly lower than the others. A bid like this can usually point to a desperate contractor or a major mistake in his calculations. Even though you may have the law on your side to enforce this contract you still will be burdened with the legal costs and efforts to win and you may end up with a project left unfinished or poorly completed. These situations may be more frequent as a sign of our current unhealthy economy. Beyond technical competence, comfort should play an equal or greater role in your decision. The single most important factor in choosing a contractor is how well you and he communicate. All things being equal, it’s better to spend more and get someone you’re with whom you are comfortable.

8. Discuss and agree upon a payment schedule

Payment schedules can also speak to a contractor’s financial status and work ethic. If they want half the bid up front, they may have financial problems or be worried that you won’t pay the rest after you’ve seen the work. For large projects, a schedule usually starts with 10 percent at contract signing, three payments of 25 percent evenly spaced over the duration of the project and a check for the final 15 percent when you feel every item on the punch list has been completed. In no circumstances should you exceed an initial payment of 30% as a down payment and even then only upon the delivery and acceptance, by you, of the all of materials.

9. Put it in writing/Obtain a contract

Draw up a contract that details every step of the project: the payment schedule as above; proof of liability insurance and worker’s compensation, if a contractor does not have proper workers compensation insurance your home owners insurance or you personally may be held as liable; a start date and projected completion date; specific materials and products to be used; and a requirement that the contractor obtain lien releases (which protect you if he doesn’t pay his bills) from all subcontractors and suppliers. Insisting on a clear contract isn’t mistrust, it’s about insuring a successful project.

10. Pay by check or if possible by credit card

The use of a credit card gives you the leverage to charge back any disputed charges. If paying by check write it out to the contracting company rather than to an individual. Make final payments only when the work is completed to your satisfaction. A reputable contractor will not threaten you or pressure you to sign documents if the job is not finished properly.

Will these steps prevent problems? Yes. Is there still a chance that something will fall between the cracks and you will become the victim of a bad contractor? Yes. So practice vigilance. Be aware of what’s going on with your job and insist that problems be corrected as they happen. Don’t fall into a false sense of security and think that it will all be OK. Remember the first principle of “Murphy’s Law”….If any thing can go wrong, it will!!!

Richard Warren
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-hire-a-contractor-or-10-easy-steps-tp-avoid-a-nervous-breakdown-701033.html

Whether you are remodeling your kitchen, getting new windows or building an addition, choosing a contractor is one of the most important steps the process. Hiring a competent, reliable and professional contractor is the first step toward a successful home improvement or home repair project. It takes more effort than a simple phone call. Most homeowners would agree that contractors and home improvement companies vary significantly by cost, availability, expertise and professionalism. Taking the time now to do research could save you unnecessary headaches and, most importantly, hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

Adhere to the recommendation to obtain at least three estimates or quotes. You will be surprised to find that two contractors may submit two widely different estimates on the same project. When comparing the estimates, though, be sure they are providing a quote on the same scope of the project, timeline and quality of work. Otherwise, it is a rather useless comparison analogous to comparing applies to oranges.

Also, request to see the contractor’s license and certificate of insurance. Most states require a contractor to carry certain types of insurance, such as worker’s compensation, property damage and personal liability. However, many either never purchased it or allowed the policies to lapse. Without proper coverage, you could be liable for any employee injuries or proper damage caused during the project.

Do not be afraid to contact and investigate local references from previous customers. Ask questions regarding their satisfaction with the contractor’s work, if they finished on time and the communication between the contractor and the homeowner. Keep in mind that a contractor may provide a reference with the mindset that he performed great on the job, but the customer may feel differently. Considering you are the potential customer, you will want to at least hear the customer’s perspective.

Because your home may be one of your most valuable assets and largest investments, it is important to hire only the best. You need to protect your investment by hiring a quality contractor and/or professional to work on it.

Home improvement, repair and maintenance professionals often advertise in the telephone book, online directories, on the radio or TV or through online referral services. Do not evaluate the contractor’s quality based on the advertisement. The best way to obtain referrals is from friends, family or co-workers who have worked with contractors on their home improvement projects. Even with these referrals, though, be sure to get multiple estimates and be sure the estimates are in writing. Do not automatically choose the lowest quote, also. Ask the contractor to explain price variations. The contractor may also be willing to revise the quote after some discussion.

Most importantly, you need to feel comfortable with the contractor. Communication is at the core of a successful home project and, if you do not feel comfortable communicating with the contractor, problems will likely arise.

Leroy K. Calstard

http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/choosing-a-contractor-for-your-remodeling-project-125455.html

Technorati Tags: home improvement contractor

We have recently noticed water coming up between linoleum sections in the hall bathroom, and we’re thinking that the pipes under the toilet or under the bathtub are old and leaking. (it’s an older house, built in the 50′s). I have also cleaned a bit of mold from around the baseboard, so I think that the leak may have been present for a while. I’m not really sure how bad it is. The water leak needs to be repaired pretty soon so that we don’t experience more mold growth or other structural damage.
What type of professional should we call – a plumber or a general contractor? We don’t need to re-do the entire bathroom – just repair the water leak. (although it would be nice to replace the floor, too!) This is our first house, and our first maintenance problem that we don’t know how to fix on our own. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

it sounds like your toilet seal is leaking causing the water to come through the tile, you may have more floor damage than you think, you need to hire a licensed and bonded plumbing contractor who specializes in remodeling work. more than likely your floor will have to be removed down to the floor joists and a new floor installed. the toilet flange is probably cracked causing this leak so the contractor will have to remove this and install a new one along with everything else.

Does anyone know of a book or list of fees charge by plumbing contractors? You know, a flat fee to change / replace an old toilet with a new one?

if it is just a toilet replacement look to pay anywhere from $200 – $500 depending on who you call and where you live. A flat rate is a rare occurance, there are to many unknowns when taking a toilet out, the flange may need replacing, something could be cracked.

Professionally speaking if at all possible, change the toilet yourself if you can it’s not really that complicated. At the least buy the toilet yourself and then call and get estimates as to how much it will cost for an installation. Usually you’ll get a better price on a better toilet if you get it yourself. A toilet replacement with no problems shouldn’t take more than 30 – 45 minutes.

If they insist on using their own toilet, call someone else.

is there a website of local contractors in Minnesota. I have my plumbing company and i need more work! so i want to send letters or emails out to contractors so i can help with their plumbing. Please help! thank you so much!

. https://www.egov.state.mn.us/Commerce/license_lookup.do?action=lookupForm