The Trick To Choose Contractors

(Sunday, November 21, 2004) - Is your family growing and you need to extend the house? Is your kitchen furniture aging and you want to renew them? Or simply are you looking for a breath of fresh air with some changes in your home? What you need to do is find a competent and reliable a contractor, who guarantees flawless work and cares for the greater care and security of your house.

For that, you must follow advice from the specialists.

Task of experts
To find someone who will fit your needs, you will have to choose from these professionals:

General contractors (for great projects that requires the hiring of subcontractors)

Specialized contractors (they install particular products, for example, devices for baths)

Architects (for important projects or that they require structural changes)

Designers (they specialize in a determined area, for example, the kitchen)

Design/construction contractors (they provide the complete service, from the beginning until the end of the work).

In many cases, newspaper advertisements are not an indicator of the quality of service, but are generally used as guide for companies referred by friends. Also, request written estimates from several companies before making a decision.

House Doctors, a company that offers handyman services in more than the 200 locations in the United States, suggests tips to select to the best professional:

Obtain three estimates or bids. When comparing estimates, look for how much detail each company proposes for the work. Also, note that prices may vary depending on quality of supplies and tools they'll use. Above all, follow your instincts and beware of unusually low estimates.

Contact the handyman's references and talk with them. Ask the references if they were satisfied with the completed work, the level of service, and timeliness of the job.

Make sure the handyman has workers' compensation and liability insurance.

Not only get the repair amount in writing, but list all details concerning the storage of materials and debris as well as their cleanup, removal or reuse.

Request the right to cancel the repair in a term of three days after signing the estimation of the work.

Baths and kitchens
Remodeling a kitchen or a bath is more than just fun and imagination. It is, in fact, a very complicated task, in which there is a choice between different designs, colors, materials, styles, last tendencies, etc.

The NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) offers these tips to find qualified help:

Never remodel a kitchen or a bath by yourself, because it is too complicated a project. Only a professional will guarantee you a functional design, safe space and with an efficient cost, according to your taste, your style and your personality.

You can choose a professional from the 30,000 members of the NKBA.

Contact several designers and discuss ideas and suggestions. Ask to see previous projects and see have them describe how they can professionally meet your needs. The English abbreviations of the different certifications are CKD (certified designer of kitchens), CBD (certified designer of baths), AKBD (associated designer of Kitchen & Bath), CMKBD (certified designer masters of Kitchen & Bath).

Before the interview with the designer, collects photos and materials that you like so that the meeting is more productive.

Ask for references and checks other works that have done. Soon, you can choose the designer who satisfies your taste and your style more, remembering that nobody has the right to do what you don't like or what exceeds your budget.

Not to let itself deceive
One of the crucial points to choose contractor it is to guess which is the one that is not going to deceive you. In that sense, the Federal Trade Commission notices the contractors do not operate within the law and which my potentially swindle customers.

For that reason, the commission advises that you do not contract under any circumstance a contractor with the following characteristics:

Offers its services door-to-door.

Give discounts if they recommend other clients.

Not listed in the telephone directory.

By "chance" has some materials that are left over from a previous job.

Only accepts payment in cash.

Asks that you obtain the necessary construction permits.

Says that your work will be a "demonstration." Pressures you to make immediate decision.

Offers guarantees for excessively long periods.

Requests that you pay for all work in advance.

Suggests that you take money lent to a moneylender who he himself knows (attention with this last one, because you can get to lose your house by a swindle of this type).

Ultimately, any project can be transformed into a true nightmare, if all of the necessary precautions are not taken.

The job of a good professional is to help you so that the work is completed safely and effective. Until the house of your dreams is a reality.

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