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Crystal Granite

Planning Your Project
Before selecting a remodeling contractor, you should carefully plan your project from start to finish. For example, if your project involves a room addition, determine exactly what your needs are, how the room is to be used, and what you want the completed job to look like. It is a good idea to coordinate your color schemes and draw a simple floor plan using miniature tables and chairs to lay out the room arrangement.

Be specific in explaining to the contractor what you want, an be sure to approve any architectural plans that are involved in the remodeling job before the contractor begins the work.

Hiring a Contractor
It is extremely important to compare costs before making a financial commitment toward any home improvement project. You should solicit at least two or three bids from prospective contractors-bids based upon the building specifications, materials, labor, and time needed to complete the project.

Discuss bids in detail with each contractor, making clear you understand the reasons for any variations in prices. Do not automatically choose the lowest price. One contractor's bid might be higher because the materials used are of a better quality or because the work will be especially thorough and therefore require more time and labor.

Ask the remodeling contractor for local references and find out if these customers were satisfied with the contractor's work. If possible, visit and inspect their commercial projects.

Find out if the contractor is a member of a professional association, which has standards, or a code of ethics for remodelers. Contact your local BBB to learn how long a contractor has been in business and if the firm has been responsive to any complaints filed with the BBB.

Another important matter to consider before hiring a contractor deals with insurance. Ask the contractor if the company is insured against claims covering worker's compensation, property damage and personal liability in case of accidents. Then call to verify the contractor's insurance coverage after obtaining the name of the carrier and agency.

Finally, check with your state, county or city housing authority to see if the contractor must meet certain licensing and/or bending requirements in your area. If so, make sure your contractor is properly licensed and bonded. Never pay a contractor for the entire job in advance and avoid paying in cash when ever possible.

Financing Your Project
To obtain financing for your home improvement project, you may consider a personal or bank loan, a home equity loan, a loan from your credit union or insurance company, or a loan from a savings a loan institution. While your contractor may be able to assist you in securing the needed financing, it is important that you investigate various sources of funding comparing the amounts, interest rates, terms and tax considerations.

If you cannot pay for a home improvement project without a loan, it is a wise idea to put a clause in your contract with the remodeler stating that the agreement is valid only if financing is obtained. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans for home improvements are available through certain banks and other lending institutions. However, FHA requires that the lender approve any contractor associated with the loan request and will not guarantee the work or the contractor. Be wary of any contractor who tells you that he/she has been approved or endorsed by the FHA.

If your home improvement project results from an accident or natural disaster that is covered by insurance, check with your insurance company to determine the extent of coverage before signing a contract to have the damages repaired.

Contract Negotiations
Terms and Conditions: All agreements and oral promises regarding a home improvement project should be put in writing to protect both the customer and the contractor. If you intend to do some of the work yourself or hire another contractor to do it, such terms should be written into the contract as well. The written contract should also include:

- A thorough description of the work to be done-specifying all materials to be sued in terms of quality, quantity, weight, color, size, brand name, etc;
- Agreed upon starting and completion dates;
- Total cost, with a breakdown of labor/material charges;
- A payment schedule;
- Any warranties and guarantees of workmanship;
- The method for debris/material removal when completed;

Also, be sure the written contract includes: the contractor's name, address, phone number, and professional license number.

Never sign a partial or blank contract. Read every contract clause carefully and ask any questions you may have before signing. Retain a copy of the contract once it is signed, and file it in your records. You should make every attempt to pay a minimal or no down payment for supplies or services; especially if you have not done business with a contractor in the past. You should not make any payments for incomplete work. Schedule payments at weekly or monthly intervals or terms should be spelled out in the contract and clearly understood by both you and the contractor.

Cancellation Rights: When you sign a home improvement contract in your home and in the presence of a contractor or contractor's representative, you have three business days in which to change your mind and cancel the contract. The contractor is required to tell you about your cancellation rights and provide you with any cancellation forms. If you cancel, it is recommended that a notice of cancellation be sent to the contractor by certified mail, with a return receipt request. There should also be a clause stating the contract is null and void or will be renegotiated if the job uncovers unexpected or hidden problems or damages after work has begun.

Lien Protection: For a large remodeling job that involves several subcontractors and a substantial financial commitment, you should protect yourself from liens against your home if the primary contractor does not pay his or her subcontractors or suppliers. You may do this by adding a release-of-lien clause to the contract or by placing your payments in an escrow account until the work is complete.

Warranty Clause: Any warranty offered on products by the contractor should be in writing and scrutinized carefully. Make sure you understand all the terms and conditions, including the length of the warranty. The warranty must state whether it is a FULL warranty that gives the consumer certain automatic rights or a LIMITED warranty that restricts certain consumer rights.

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