| Finding the Right Window Contractor
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| | Hiring a Contractor
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| Home Sweet Home Improvement
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| | Interview each contractor you're
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| Whether you're planning an addition for a
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| | considering. Here are some questions to
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| growing family or simply getting new
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| | ask.
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| replacement windows, finding a competent
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| | How long have you been in business?
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| and reliable contractor is the first step
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| | Look for a well-established company and
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| to a successful and satisfying home
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| | check it out with consumer protection
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| improvement project.
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| | officials. They can tell you if there are
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| Your home may be your most valuable
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| | unresolved consumer complaints on file.
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| financial asset. That's why it's
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| | One caveat: No record of complaints
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| important to be cautious when you hire
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| | against a particular contractor doesn't
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| someone to work on it. Home improvement
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| | necessarily mean no previous consumer
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| and repair and maintenance contractors
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| | problems. It may be that problems exist,
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| often advertise in newspapers, the Yellow
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| | but have not yet been reported, or that
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| Pages, and on the radio and TV. However,
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| | the contractor is doing business under
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| don't consider an ad an indication of the
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| | several different names.
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| quality of a contractor's work. Your best
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| | Are you licensed and registered with the
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| bet is a reality check from those in the
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| | state?
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| know: friends, neighbors, or co-workers
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| | While most states license electrical and
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| who have had improvement work done. Get
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| | plumbing contractors, only 36 states have
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| written estimates from several firms. Ask
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| | some type of licensing and registration
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| for explanations for price variations.
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| | statutes affecting contractors,
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| Don't automatically choose the lowest
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| | remodelers, and/or specialty contractors.
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| bidder.
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| | The licensing can range from simple
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| Home Improvement Professionals
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| | registration to a detailed qualification
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| Depending on the size and complexity of
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| | process. Also, the licens¬ing
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| your project, you may choose to work with
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| | requirements in one locality maybe
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| a number of different professionals:
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| | different from the requirements in the
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| General Contractors manage all aspects of
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| | rest of the state. Check with your local
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| your project, including hiring and
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| | building department or consumer
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| supervising subcontractors, getting
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| | protection agency to find out about
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| building permits, and scheduling
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| | licensing requirements in your area. If
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| inspections. They also work with
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| | your state has licensing laws, ask to see
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| architects and designers.
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| | the contractor's license. Make sure it's
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| Specialty Contractors install particular
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| | current.
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| products, such as cabinets and bathroom
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| | How many projects like mine have you
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| fixtures.
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| | completed in the last year?
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| Architects design homes, additions, and
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| | Ask for a list. This will help you
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| major renovations. If your project
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| | determine how familiar the contractor is
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| includes structural changes, you may want
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| | with your type of project.
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| to hire an architect who specializes in
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| | Will my project require a permit?
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| home remodeling.
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| | Most states and localities require
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| Designers have expertise in specific
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| | permits for building projects, even for
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| areas of the home, such as kitchens and
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| | simple jobs like decks. A competent
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| baths.
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| | contractor will get all the necessary
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| Design/Build Contractors provide one-stop
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| | permits before starting work on your
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| service. They see your project
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| | project. Be suspicious if the contractor
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| throughfrom start to finish. Some firms
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| | asks you to get the permit(s). It could
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| have architects on staff; others use
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| | mean that the contractor is not licensed
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| certified designers.
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| | or registered, as required by your state
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| Don't Get Nailed
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| | or locality.
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| Not all contractors operate within the
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| | May I have a list of references?
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| law. Here are some tip-offs to
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| | The contractor should be able to give you
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| potentialrip-offs. A less than reputable
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| | the names and addresses of at least three
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| contractor:
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| | clients who have projects similar to
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| Solicits door-to-door
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| | yours. Ask each how long ago the project
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| Just happens to have materials left over
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| | was completed and if you can see it.
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| from a previous job
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| | What types of insurance do you carry?
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| Only accepts cash payments
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| | Contractors should have personal
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| Asks you to get the required building
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| | liability, worker's compensation, and
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| permits
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| | property damage coverage. Ask for copies
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| Does not list a business number in the
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| | of insurance certificates, and make sure
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| local telephone directory
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| | they're current. Avoid doing business
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| Tells you your job will be a
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| | with contractors who don't carry the
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| "demonstration"
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| | appropriate insurance. Otherwise, you'll
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| Pressures you for an immediate decision
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| | be held liable for any injuries and
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| Asks you to pay for the entire job
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| | damages that occur during the project.
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| up-front
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