Search
Related Links

 

 

Informative Articles

Curb Appeal First Impressions Count When Selling Your Home
People selling their homes via real estate brokers get lots of coaching. People selling their own homes as FSBOs need the same. One of the most important topics on which FSBOs can benefit from coaching is curb appeal. How does your home look when...
Good Faith Deposit Real Estate Transactions
In a real estate transaction, a touchy issue is how much trust the seller has in a buyer. The existence of a good faith deposit helps put a seller at rest. Good Faith Deposit If you are selling your home, condominium or other real estate, you...
Sell My House Without A Realtor
If youre thinking, "I should sell my house without a realtor," the current real estate market and explosion of the Internet will make your job easier. Sell My House Without A Realtor If you are looking to sell a house without a realtor, you...
The Home Warranty Doctor Is In!
Would you go to your real estate agent for advice on the stock market? Probably not. While your real estate agent does help you with a different kind of investment your home that doesnt make them automatically qualified to give you advice on...
What are Murphy Beds?
In a time of expensive real estate, smaller homes built on smaller lots are becoming the norm, even in the suburbs. In the city, space is at an even greater premium, as more and more people work or live in existing buildings. Any idea that makes the...
 
Google
Where Are All the Good Contractors!!

Have you ever had a bad experience with a contractor (ex. painter, roofer, plumber, landscaper, carpenter etc.)? Did problems such as these occur: contractor showing up late or not at all; poor workmanship and work ethics; missed deadlines? Have you landed in court because of a bad contractor?

I can relate. Although finding a reliable and punctual contractor who takes pride in his or her work often seems impossible, contractors possessing these characteristics do exist. The key is knowing how and where to find them.

Here are a few easy ways (outside of using the yellow pages) to find contractors who will make you want to smile at the completion of the job, instead of cry:

^sk family members, friends and associates for referrals of contractors who have worked for them. People close to you are usually more than happy to give you the name of someone who did excellent work for them.

Tisit your local home improvement center. Employees and customer service representatives (CSRs) may be able to refer quality contractors to you. Contractors patronize these centers regularly and sometimes leave business cards with the CSRs.

^ttend local home and garden shows. These shows are packed with home improvement professionals who are eager to explain and demonstrate the type of services they provide. Visit the various vendor tables/booths. Retrieve information provided by the professionals and use this opportunity to ask any questions you may have concerning your next project and your search for a contractor.

Uf your city or town has a real estate association, attend one of the regular meetings. The real estate investors, agents, brokers and others who attend the meetings can refer you to quality contractors. Some contractors are members of real estate associations.

Remember, before hiring any contractor, do the following:

ontact the Better Business Bureau to find out if the contractor


is a member of the bureau. If so, obtain a copy of the bureau?s report. The report contains general information about the contractor and will inform you whether or not the contractor has a satisfactory record with the bureau. The report also contains information such as the number of complaints, if any, the contractor received within a determined period of time (usually 36 months).

^sk the contractor to provide references and pictures (if applicable) of his or her completed work from previous jobs.

ake sure the contractor is fully licensed and insured.

Dry to obtain a minimum of 3 price quotes for the job to be performed.

After you have selected a contractor for your project, be sure to PUT EVERYTHING IN WRITING! This can save you down the road in the event that something becomes a disputable issue in court. Your contract should include a detailed description of the work to be performed; materials that will be used; timeframes (dates) for the progression and completion of the project; a cost breakdown for the project and payment information. Penalty clauses should also be included for any breach of the contract by either party. The contract should be signed and dated.

By looking for contractors in the right places and doing a little research prior to hiring a contractor, you will greatly increase your chances of having a satisfying and relatively trouble free experience that will be a win/win for you and the contractor.

About the Author

Celise Bealer is an independent distributor for Tahitian Noni International. TNI markets an all natural health supplement called Tahitian Noni Juice, which helps people who suffer from ailments such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes and allergies. Tahitian Noni Juice, along with information about TNI?s unprecedented home-based business opportunity can be found at http://www.tahitiannoni.com/cbealer. Celise?s email address is cbealer@tahitiannoni.com.