Get the right home improvement help
With the weather warming up, it may seem like a good time to spring into your home improvement plans.
Whether you just bought a new place or you’re fixing up an old one, who you hire to help you out can make the difference between a haven and a money pit.
Last year, the Better Business Bureau received more than 6,000 complaints against general contractors, up 11% from the prior year.
To avoid the headache of using a contractor who overcharges and underperforms, it’s important to check them out ahead of time.
Start by looking online. The BBB has free reviews of thousands of general contractors across the country available at bbb.org/ search. There are also customer-written reviews at websites like Yelp, which is free, and Angie’s List, which charges a membership fee.
The BBB recommends the following tips to make sure that the contractor you choose doesn’t turn your home makeover into a nightmare:
l Don’t just hire someone who comes knocking on your door. They’re more likely to be a fly-by-night operation than an established business.
l Get at least three bids. Make sure you have enough detail about the specifications, materials and labor to make an apples-to-apples comparison. If one bid is unusually low, find out why before you jump on it.
l make sure the company you want to hire has proper licenses and insurance. Ask for proof the company is insured against workers’ compensation, property damage and personal liability claims. Check with local agencies to make sure they are certified.
l Put it all on paper. Get your contract in writing, including start and finish dates for the project. Require a “lien waiver” on completion of the job, which states that all suppliers and subcontractors have been paid for their work.
l Follow the “Rule of Thirds.” Pay one third of the total cost at the start of the project, another third when it’s 50% completed, and the final third when it’s all done.