Easy Renovate » Contractors

Does It Matter If a Contractor Isn’t Licensed?

admin — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:52:34 +0000

Q: Does it matter if a contractor isn’t licensed? Can’t he do a good job one way or the other?

A: Sure, he (or she) can. A piece of paper does not a contractor make.

In fact, many states do not even license contractors. Surprising, huh? They may have licenses for specialized trades–electrical, asbestos removal, HVAC, plumbing, and so on–but not for contractors. So, if you live in such a state, then obviously the contractor will not be licensed.

Not only that, but many homeowners believe that a contractor who is licensed and in good standing is a “good contractor.” Not necessarily. Being licensed–and not running afoul of the conditions of licensing–is just the bare minimum. It just says: This person is a contractor. It is no reflection of his/her ability.

However, what if the contractor is not licensed? Think about it. What does this say? He may have excuses (“Oh, I’ll get to it.” etc.), but this does not cut the mustard. If the contractor cannot fulfill this bare minimum of licensure, you probably do not want to deal with this person.

Bottom line: don’t go there.

Questions to Ask the Remodeling Contractor

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:08:54 +0000

Ask these initial questions before signing anything with the home improvement contractor or general contractor:

1. Are you licensed or registered in my state?

At the very least, the contractors should be licensed/registered in states where this is required. Also, the contractor should have a clear record.

2. Do you “sub out” or do you have your own employees?

There is no right answer. Generally, contractors arrange for sub-contractors to perform the work. After all, this is why they are called contractors. However, some contractors may have employees and perform their own work.

3. How long have you been in business?

There is no right answer. A new firm cannot be faulted for being new. However, it makes it that much harder for you to check up on references.

4. How many projects similar to mine have you finished in the past year?

The important words are “similar to mine.” If the contractor will be renovating your kitchen, you want to see other kitchen renovations at a similar price level.

5. Do you think I will need permits for this job?

The contractor may not be able to give you a definite answer until he gets further into the job. But he should be able to give you an educated guess at this point.

6. If permit are needed for this job, will you follow through the permit process all the way?

Contractors earn their commission by performing this service. However, you will have to pay the permit fees.

7. Will you or someone else be the “point person” for my job?

8. Can I see three references?

Rather than just looking at pictures in a portfolio, you will want to see the work in person and speak to the homeowner without the contractor being present.

9. Do you have worker’s compensation and liability insurance and can you provide me with copies of same?

10. How much down payment do you want?

You should not put down more than 10% down payment. Fees for permits may be additional.

How to Lower Your Contractor Costs with Sweat Equity

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:07:29 +0000

Unless you’re as rich as a billionaire, you’ll be less than excited about paying those 18%-25% contractor commissions. Here are a few suggestions about ways to lower your contractor costs by doing some of the work yourself: otherwise known as sweat equity.

1. Tell; Don’t Ask Permission

The contractor doesn’t want you to do this because he will lose money. Gather your reserve and tell–don’t ask permission–the contractor that you intend to take on some of the work yourself.

2. Know Your Strengths and Limitations

Because you may be facing some opposition from the contractor, know for darn sure that you can do whatever you intend to do. Intend on wiring the whole kitchen yourself? Fine, but make sure you have done this before and can do it again within the structure of a timetable. For this reason, see the next step…

3. Do the Grunt Work Rather than the Work of Highly Experienced Pros

Unless you’re a licensed electrician or a highly experienced plumber or carpenter, you may want to take on grunt work. What’s grunt work? It’s stuff like demolition. It’s stuff like painting (though professional painters may beg to differ). It’s stuff like hauling junk out to the dump.

4. Supply Your Own Materials

The contractor may get upset if you say you want to supply everything–lumber, nails, screws, drywall, etc. And I would not recommend doing this. Let the contractor worry about these kinds of details. But it’s perfectly acceptable for you to supply things like cabinetry, flooring, fixtures, etc. This is a very simple way to save money. If the cabinetry costs $1,000, then the contractor will tack on up to $250 just for making that call to the supplier. You can do this yourself.

5. Spring it On the Contractor at the Last Minute

It may seem reasonable to let the contractor know as early as possible that you want to take on some of the work yourself. But look at it this way. If the contractor knows well in advance that he will be losing out on part of his commission, he may jack up other parts of his estimate. Even if he’s has no ill intentions, it’s a natural human response, and he may find himself doing this unconsciously. Get your figures firmly in place before you tell the contractor that you want to do this.

For instance: You want to know exactly how much the contractor wants to charge you for demo’ing the bathroom you want to remodel. Get that exact figure in place. Say, he wants to charge you $2000 for this service. Then, when you tell him that you will do this work, you can rightly expect your estimate to drop $2,000 and to stay dropped.

State Remodeling Contractor License Check

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:06:12 +0000

Want to see if a home remodeling contractor is licensed at the state level? You’re at the right place.

This list covers primarily the specific category of license called home remodeling contractor license. This title differs from state to state. For example, in some states it may be called a home improvement contractor license or home renovation contractor license.

In the event a state does not have this remodeling-specific license, you will need to check out general contractor licensing.

Licenses may be required for electricians, plumbers, HVAC, asbestos removers, and other sub-specialties. Remember, this list covers only the state level. Licenses may be required at the municipal or county level.