| If you have home repair or renovations that need to | | | | finish it. |
| be done, you need to contact several different home | | | | You also need to get commitments from companies |
| improvement companies to find the best one to do | | | | on what days and hours they will need access to |
| your job. They should each offer a free estimate, | | | | your house. If you like to sleep in a bit on Saturdays, |
| but you will need to learn more than just the price. | | | | for instance, you might want to request that they |
| You also need to investigate the home improvement | | | | not begin at 7 am on that one day. |
| companies themselves, such as their record with the | | | | If you can possibly avoid it, do not pay home |
| Better Business Bureau, how long they have been in | | | | improvement companies the full project amount in |
| business, and whether they have insurance against | | | | advance. Once they have received all the money |
| damage to your property or your neighbor's as well | | | | they will get from you, there is little incentive for |
| as worker's compensation for their employees. | | | | them to have completing your job a priority. It is |
| Try to always deal with locally based companies. | | | | customary for some home improvement companies |
| When there are storms and many homes are | | | | to ask for a down payment or partial payments at |
| damaged, such as by hail or high winds, many | | | | pre-determined stages. Make sure these benchmark |
| "gypsy" or "vagabond" contractors move into the | | | | payments are based on completion levels and not |
| area temporarily. These home improvement | | | | time increments. For example, if the job involves |
| companies may offer excellent rates, but there is | | | | rebuilding the roof deck and installing shingles, you |
| usually no way to check their record or to reach | | | | could make one of the benchmarks contingent on |
| them if the repair is sub-standard. For example, many | | | | the decking and felt installation being completed. |
| of these transient home improvement companies | | | | Ask friends or relatives to recommend home |
| may replace your shingles in what looks like a | | | | improvement companies they have used with good |
| professional manner. Two months later, when a | | | | results as well as any they had unsatisfactory |
| heavy rain arrives, your roof may leak. By then, | | | | experiences with. If you notice projects in your |
| however, these home improvement companies have | | | | neighborhood, ask the homeowners about the home |
| moved on to greener pastures with your money. | | | | improvement companies involved, especially if the |
| When you get cost estimates from the different | | | | results look nice, and how satisfied they were with |
| companies, also ask them to provide firm completion | | | | the work. |
| dates. There have been many instances of home | | | | Make sure any company you select are bonded, and |
| improvement companies starting a project that | | | | that they bond or at least perform background |
| should be finished in a week and then moving to | | | | checks on their employees. You should also place any |
| another, better paying project before completion. | | | | valuables, such as jewelry, out of sight while |
| The initial job may remain in limbo for weeks or even | | | | workmen are in your home. |
| months before the contractor and crew return to | | | | |