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Jan 19 2009, 3:37 PM EST galeg 177 words added
Mar 1 2007, 3:28 PM EST extrafancy 2 words added, 2 words deleted

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Contractor FAQ

Ask questions on finding, hiring, and working with a contractor. If you have experience working with contractors, share your tips and advice!
<< Also see the page on kitchen and bath designers>>

Q: How do you check their credentials to be sure they know what they're doing?
A: Be familiar with your house plans first so you know what should be there and where. Make yourself known at the housesite. If something is not right, tell them then and there. When we built our new house I made special measurements of our bed board because it is so wide, so the electrician would place the outlets at the proper distrance apart. I made a mistake by not checking this and it never got fixed. The measments were on the houseplan, but make sure too that you have a copy exactly like the one the contractors are using. So many items and details get changed as you plan a house that certain items can easily go unnoticed. Just because someone has a license, does not mean they can't make a mistake either.

Q: I want to hear how a contractor did on other jobs. Is it okay to ask for the phone numbers of previous clients?
A:
sure it is. Ask ask ask.

Q: How many estimates should you get before you start?
A: 3 is a good number and if you know someone who has used a contractor doesn't mean they will do as good of a job for you as they did for them!

Q: I've heard you should budget an extra 10% onto a contractor's estimate for cost overruns. I'm on a tight budget, and can't afford that. How do I make sure the contractor stays strictly to the estimate?
A: Get your contract in writing always!

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