When getting estimates from different contractors for a home improvement project, make sure the quotes involve comparable time and quality, says Kenneth Turnage II of K2GC, an Antioch-based general contractor.
“A lot of contractors do lump sum estimates,” he says. “You’ll see ‘X amount for dry wall.’ The contract should specify precisely which walls or how many square feet. That way, you don’t hear later that ‘it wasn’t included in the estimate.’”
Mr. Turnage says your objective is to minimize or eliminate change orders, those pesky 11th-hour revisions to your contract that so often account for cost overruns. He warns there will occasionally be unforeseeable problems that’ll necessitate a change, “but there should be no reason for the contractor to charge significantly more.”
Mr. Turnage recommends you only use contractors with a physical business address as opposed to a post office box. Communicating with your contractor should be easy, and a lack of a physical address suggests otherwise. It may be they operate out of their home, and Mr. Turnage says that’s fine, but you should at least find out where it is. Pay a visit and see how the business is set up. “If it’s in disarray, that’s a direct indication of how they’ll treat your home.”
Confirm your contractor is licensed and insured, and that their workers’ compensation insurance is paid, says Mr. Turnage. Make sure the subcontractors are getting paid. And most of all, he says, trust your instincts. “If you're leery about your contractor after a few appointments, you may want to stay away. Sixty percent of this job is communication; only 40 percent is the work itself. If you can’t communicate your expectations to your contractor, how will you ever get the outcome you want?”
Consider these environmentally friendly (and money-saving) energy tips.
• Monthly changing of air filters would result in approximately $100 per year savings
• Temperature setting reminders on a yearly basis
• Reducing wattage of light bulbs can result in additional savings
• By ensuring your caulking and weather stripping are working properly, you can cut your heating bills up to 10%.
Water damage prevention tips:
• Make sure sprinklers do not spray your homes
• Exterior grading needs to be sloped away from the home for water runoff
• Make sure foliage is not building up in your gutters and downspouts to avoid blockage issues from occurring
Fire prevention tips:
• Make sure there is n pest intrusion, which may result in the gnawing of wires
• Don't overload circuits by using additional outlet devices
• Change range hood filters to eliminate grease build-up
• Clean your chimney on a regular basis to prevent soot build-up
