Use Caution When Paying Upfront for Home Remodeling and Home Improvement We've all heard the horror stories: a kitchen with cabinets removed, a gaping hole in the wall, and the contractor skips town. A family room that looked beautiful until it started to rain.
How can you protect against disaster when you undertake your home beautification project? Planning and a good contract can help.
The best way to find a contractor is through friends and neighbors. Industry groups recommend you get a written estimate from at least three contractors, visit job sites, and inspect the quality of work.
You know checking references is important. But so is getting specific materials and the quality of products outlined in the contract, as well as a timeline for completion of phases of the project.
A survey by Consumer Reports found that dissatisfaction with home remodeling results was largely due to cost overruns and jobs that took considerably longer than scheduled. Keep those findings in mind when planning your project.
------------------------------ How many times have you been told, "Don’t pay for work until it’s done?" This report illustrates what can happen when that advice is ignored.
The homeowner wanted to install a lawn sprinkling system as well as additional landscaping. He contacted a company that came out, gave him an estimate, and promised to do a great job. This unfortunate homeowner signed the contract, paid over $7,000 up front, and waited for the company to complete the work. This was last year - and he is still waiting.
The bad news: the company is no longer answering its phones, and the owner is very elusive. Unfortunately, this case illustrates the pitfalls when work is paid for before it’s completed. The most you should pay up front is a down payment, and that should be done by credit card, so you have charge-back rights if the work isn’t performed.
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