If anyone has had experiences which might need to be added to the info
below, please let me know:
Thanks,
-=>Snip<=-
             Tips on Home Improvement Projects
If you plan to do some fairly extensive home improvement and
remodelling, it's very important that you and the contractor you
choose are on the same wavelength. This is particularaly important if
you will rely on a home improvement loan for the money to complete the
job, and are not prepared to meet any extensive addendums.
Having just gone through this, here are some tips which will help you
avoid possible pitfalls.
Before you select a contractor, insist that he provide names of
persons for whom he has done similar work. Call these folks, and see
if they experienced any difficulties during the work in progress.
Be certain that you specify, and put in writing, exactly what you want
to do. Add ons, after the commencement of the work may prove quite
expensive, and if you will depend on the proceeds from a home
improvement loan, may prove not feasible. Go with the contractor when
he is measuring and estimating costs. Ask him if his measurements are
exact, and if he is willing to guarantee that there will be no
additional expenses due to any mis-measurement on his part.
If your project is an addition to your home, be certain your
specification requires close matching to the existing structure. If
the rest of your home has gutters and downspouts, for example,don't
forget to include them in specs for the job.
Get him to specify, in writing, how long the job will take, barring
uncontrollable weather delays. Be certain that he includes this in the
letter of acceptance. Some contractors, if they have several jobs in
progress, are likely to move artisans from job to job at the cost of
delay for each project.
If he says that certain items are conditional, and that there may be
some hidden costs, let him know that you are serious about entering
into a contract, and ask that he have the artisan who will do the work
give you a worst case scenario. It's always easy to reduce an HI loan,
but hard to add to it once it is entered into.
If you are adding such items as new tile, or new flooring, let him
know that you want the bid based on the highest grade materials, and
that you want to pick patterns and quality BEFORE the bid is
finalized. This gives you the option with going for a lower grade to
reduce costs. If new flooring requires moving of heavy furniture,
refrigerators, etc, specify that proper equipment to prevent
scratching or damage to the new floor will be provided, and that any
damage done to the new flooring will be at his expense.
If you are extending a conrete patio, be certain to specify that, to
the best of his ability, the texture of old and the new surfaces will
be identical. They will, temporarily, be a different color, but will
weather down in time to about the same. If the texture is different,
the extension will always be obvious.
Have an understanding as to how often any debris will be removed, and
insist that no debris remain on lawn or garden areas overnight. There
are always safe places that such materials may be temporarily stored.
The same is true of new building mateials. If these are left on lawn
areas for any extended period, you will be out the expense, or labor, of
re-doing the lawn.
Before you sign a letter of acceptance, which usually takes the place
of a formal contract, be sure that all the above points have been gone
over, and that they are in writing in that letter.
If you follow these tips, and proceed cautiously, you should get a job
with which you will remain satisfied, and will be able to give that
contractor a good reference.
Last, but not least, shop carefully for your loan source. Rates may
vary sharply, and there is a possibility you'll greatly reduce your
overall costs by looking around.
Good luck.
Kent Anderson
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