Homeowners are ready to jump back into home improvement in 2011, and their timing couldn’t be better as contractors say they’re still willing to cut prices to get business, according to the latest Angie’s List surveys. “Contractors offered big discounts in 2009 and in 2010, but many homeowners held back for economic reasons. But our [...]
Archive for the ‘FAQs’ Category
November 23rd, 2010
Getting Your Home Ready for Winter
Cold weathers coming. You can count on it. Here are some tips to help get your home ready for the onslaught of winter weather. Drain and take your garden hoses inside. Take any nozzles off of the hoses. Water stuck in the hose can expand in cold temperatures and split the hose. Next, shut off [...]
September 4th, 2010
Pending Home Sales Rise
WASHINGTON — September 02, 2010 — Following a sharp drop in the months immediately after expiration of the home buyer tax credit, pending home sales have modestly risen, according to the National Association of Realtors. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator, rose 5.2 percent to 79.4 based on contracts signed in July from [...]
March 16th, 2010
What do these engery tax credits mean to me?
(ARA) – The tax credit for energy efficient replacement windows and doors, originally introduced in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is set to expire at the end of 2010, making this year the best time for homeowners to replace their windows and upgrade the look and feel of their home. [...]
March 16th, 2010
What is Design-Build?
Design/Build is a more efficient method of the old “find someone to draw it and then locate a Contractor” method. By working with one company for both, it saves you time and ultimately money. Contractors are more familiar with the cost of what it takes to complete a project. With the homeowner, Contractor and Designer [...]
October 30th, 2009
How do you handle “dirty work”?
Construction is dusty and dirty! It gets everywhere, especially if any sanding is being done. Make sure the contractor will make an honest effort to keep the dust contained, or notify you when the heavy dust generating operations will take place so you can place sheets over furniture or move sensitive belongings. Make sure the [...]
October 30th, 2009
Do you guarantee your work will meet up to standards?
Check to see if the contractor is willing to take care of any problems associated with the project that may crop up in the next few months. If he considers the project done after the final inspection, this may not be the right person for the job. Your contractor should guarantee his work for at [...]
October 30th, 2009
Will we need a building permit for this project?
Most cities and towns require permits for building projects. Failure to obtain the necessary permits or to arrange obligatory inspections can be illegal. In some cases, if a project violates a zoning law or some other regulations, it may even have to be demolished if there is no way to comply with the law. A [...]
October 30th, 2009
How many projects like mine have you completed in the past 12 months?
This will help you determine the contractor’s familiarity with your type of project. You should confirm that a good portion of those completed projects were similar to the type of project you are proposing.
October 30th, 2009
What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?
This will give you a good indication about the company’s customer satisfaction. According to research conducted by NARI, most remodeling businesses attribute over 50 percent of their annual volume to customer referrals; Houseworks Unlimited, Inc. attributes up to 90 percent.
