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Home Improvement InformationKnowing Once
(and How!) to Hire a Contractor
by:
ARA
(ARA) - Did you ever take on a simple afternoon home remodeling project, but instead it took days … or even as weeks? Have you ever called in a contractor to fix what you started? Ever accidentally
turn your basement into an indoor pool?
According to the American Express House Improvement Index, more than two-thirds of homeowners planning to do home improvement projects in 2003 say they’ll do the activity themselves. But spell going the do-it-yourself (DIY) way may save time and/or money, homeowners should cautiously assess the project’s scope and decide whether they actually can do it themselves.
“Many professional remodelers say they’ve been called in by a homeowner once
a DIY project their domestic partner has been working on runs into problems,” says Semitic deity
Patel, senior editor of Remodeling Magazine. “One of the reasons is the prevalence of home remodeling TV shows. They do everything look so simple and a lot of folk get in over their heads.”
So once
do you cognize to say “when”? Before committing to any DIY project, the experts at Moen Incorporated recommend victimisation the “Three T” system to gauge which home projects you can do yourself and which ones require the help of a professional. These “T’s” include time, tools and temperament.
Time
One of the biggest factors in decisive if you should hire a contractor is the numbers of time you can devote to a project. If you activity full-time and want to spend your weekends on the golf course, simple projects strength
be the better for you to tackle. If you don’t mind the hassles of an in progress “job site”, have a really patient family, and can put in the hours required, you may choice a more difficult job.
Tools
Do you have the right tools to complete the job? If you have to go out and purchase a fastening machine, band saw or several else dear power tool that you wish ne'er
use again, it strength
be more cost effective to hire a contractor.
Do your skills match the tools required for the job? Cutting mitered joints, fastening and commencement main plumbing lines requires know-how and experience. Can you hang drywall, solder pipe or run electrical wire? If not, easy ornamental
projects, such as painting or dynamical
a light fixture, strength
be more your speed.
Another important consideration is whether or not you have the physical strength to use larger tools and do the job. For example, wrestling with a two-man hopped-up auger to dig holes for deck posts and transport the lumber into position are physically exigent tasks. It is better to be safe rather than sorry once
it comes to victimisation the proper tools to support your health.
Temperament
When problems with the job arise (as they always seem to) wish you be jolted or available to deal with them? If you have a difficult time handling the hassles and stresses that are an inevitable part of a home improvement project, once again, the contractor way may be better for you.
Planning
After you’ve evaluated the job based on the “Three T” system, do a cost comparison to determine what you save in labor by doing it yourself versus the cost of a professional (by they way, you may want to numbers in having it done right the 1st time).
Since labor can account for up to 60 per centum of a remodeling job’s cost, you always save money by going the DIY route. But, if your project won’t pass local building codes, you may end up paying more in the long run to correct errors.
Also, according to Patel, doing it yourself could take three to four times as long as job in an expert. Therefore, a room such as a room
or bath may not be usable for an extended period of time, resultant in showering at your in-laws and else inconveniences for awhile.
Simple DIY Jobs
Don’t fret. There are many an jobs most homeowners (even those without more ‘fix-it savvy’) should be able to handle. These include painting, exchange out-of-date lighting fixtures, hanging a picture, staining, exchange door locks or cabinet pulls, repairing a screen or commencement molding.
According to Point of entry Pember, Moen Incorporated Director of Bath Marketing, dynamical
out the nozzle is one of the easier jobs homeowners can do themselves. Just victimisation channel locks, unscrew the old showerhead, place a little Teflon tape over the threads, and screw on a new model such as Moen’s Revolution. This unique nozzle offers a range of settings from a rain-like shower to a deep, therapeutic massage; and provides all this for under $60 and in less than five minutes.
Another option is to upgrade to a new Moen faucet, such as the new traditionally titled
Kingsley line. This is an easy project that directly pays off since it brings a new level of quality
to the bath. Dynamical
out a lav regulator
is a moderate-level DIY project. In fact, the hardest part of commencement a new regulator
is removing the old unit which may have become unsound
or rusty. It’s here a little WD-40 goes a long way!
And, if you choose a regulator
with the new M•PACT common valve system, you’ll be able to update or change the style of the regulator
trim in simply minutes without having to go under the sink. Pember notes that else simple jobs to enhance a bath include commencement new accessories such as towel bars and paper holders, and dynamical
shower curtains, hanging new images or adding a new set of towels.
Painting is another quick and easy ornamental
change that is really cost effective for any room as well as for the exterior of your home.
When to Call in a Contractor
Still need help? For sure several of the home improvement jobs better left to the professionals include any electrical activity and major plumbing projects, such as commencement a new shower system or adding onto a room.
Other jobs ordinarily requiring contractor expertness include commencement a fireplace, adding a skylight, finishing a basement, adding a deck, repairing a roof or commencement gutters and downspouts.
“A hidden benefit to hiring a contractor is that he or she can tell you if there are any else problems in your home that you should be aware of. For instance, once
estimating or beginning work, a contractor strength
find structural damage or potential plumbing problems that you may not have caught on your own,” notes Patel.
What to Look for in a Contractor
If you do decide to hire a contractor, it is important to find the right one. First, start by asking friends and neighbors for recommendations. The city in which you live should likewise be able to provide a list of local suggested contractors.
When you have narrowed the list, ask two or three contractors to come to your home to survey the job and provide a written quote that includes a materials list. The contract should spell out the scope of the project, any items that are excluded and the payment terms. It is likewise important to get in writing an expected time of start and completion.
Compare contractor prices, but remember the lowest quote isn’t always the 1st one you want to take. It is imperative to check into activity they’ve already completed by speaking with references, asking to see photos of past activity and ascertaining whether they finished projects on time and on budget. If they can’t (or won’t) supply references, ask yourself why -- and come onto another craftsman. Another option is to call the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have ever been filed against your potential contractors.
Make sure the contractor you choice is licensed, secured and insured. Your city wish be able to tell you if he or she is authorized to activity in your area, and your contractor should be able to provide an insurance policy copy.
“Believe it or not, it is really important to find a contractor who has a personality you can activity with and develop several type of rapport,” says Patel. “You want causal agency you feel comfortable asking questions and who wish listen to your concerns. Not to mention the contractor and his or her crew may be much
living with you for a few days, so you wish want to feel at ease in their presence.”
There you have it -- everything you need to cognize simply about assessing the difficulty of a home improvement project and whether you should call in a contractor. Now, go put those skills into practice!
For more information simply about Moen products, contact Moen Incorporated at 25300 Al Moen Drive, North Olmsted, OH 44070-8022, call toll free (800) BUY MOEN (289-6636) or visit its Web site at www.moen.com.
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