Home Improvement Project Tips

I am always talking about DIY projects because if you own your home, you can do most things yourself to improve it. But, there are jobs that come along that you can't do. That's when you need to hire a contractor.

But, contractors aren't always reliable or honest. It's great if you can find a contractor someone you trust refers to you. But, that's not always the case. Most people have to go rummaging through the phonebook or do a search online to find a contractor. When you have to do that, you never know what you are going to get.

So, there are a few things that you can do to protect yourself. Make sure you stick to your guns when you are talking to a contractor. The scam artists are good salespeople and they are gifted in the art of changing your mind from what you know you should do to what they want you to do.

First of all, if a contractor comes to your door offering you a service, take that as your first clue. Now, sometimes they can be very upfront and are only trying to spread awareness. So, you can't be too skeptical. Just be very cautious.

Do the same thing you would do to the doctor and let them know you want a second opinion. Take a card and tell them you will get a hold of them if you do in fact need the service. You'll find out one of two things at that point. The honest contractor won't mind one bit while the scam artist will find a way out of that conversation quick.

Second of all, get a contract for any work any contractor is going to do for you. Make sure you get to see it in writing and that you get a chance to discuss terms. Again, an honest contractor won't mind while a scam artist will find a way to be gone.

Third of all, make sure everything is spelled out in detail before you sign. The bottom line of what it will cost is something you have to watch for when dealing with scam artists. Make sure that the price you see is the final price, no hidden fees or anything else to pay. Also, make sure you have start and finish dates, contractor information and that the contractor has signed the contract.

Finally, never pay the full amount upfront. You can expect to pay about a third of the total project for the contractor to begin work. But, there should be a payment schedule put in place with milestones. When the contractor reaches a certain milestone, then you can expect to pay another portion of the entire job.

These are just a few tips to keep yourself safe from scam artists. There are plenty of honest contractors out there who will do a great job for you. Just make sure you do your research, follow what you know is right and be alert for any signs that a scam artist is trying to take your hard earned money.

7 Free Estimating Tips For Home Additions

Preparing an estimate for home additions, renovations, and massive construction is a combination of skills and techniques, which must be done exactly. As an estimator you need to make labour estimates, materials estimates, and job overhead estimates. Here are several steps to preparing an estimate. These steps will help you start your estimating method properly.

The first step in preparing an estimate is clarifying the scope of work. You must be clear on the customer specifications, such as materials, permits, and type of construction. The estimator must know the proposed start date of the project, the way to resubmit the estimate, by fax, e-mail or in person, and who to call in the event you have any questions.

The second step is to pick whether the project will be carried out in-house or outsourced. If the work is being outsourced you ought to start to contact your sub-contractors immediately to provide them with the necessary documents to prepare their estimates. Most sub-contractor will ask for an Adobe (PDF format) File or and AutoCAD (DWG format) file. Find ways to convert your documents to these formats.

Third, make positive you visit the proposed construction site to clarify any discrepancies in the drawings and specifications. Arrange the site visit so that your sub-trades can be present. Bring a measuring tape, a digital camera, and your marketing gear. Take as plenty of pics as feasible, this is not the time to be timid. Check any measurements that did not make sense on the drawing, and keep in mind to bring promotional gear.

The fourth step in preparing an estimate is gathering prices for materials from local suppliers. It would be in you best interest to find reliable suppliers close to the construction site. Finding suppliers close the site will avoid unnecessary traffic delays, and cut delivery time and cost. You can contact your regular suppliers and ask them in the event that they can refer you to someone closer to your job-site.

Putting together the estimate is the fifth step. The estimate can be prepared by hand, in Microsoft excel, or with an estimating program. In the event you plan to do plenty of estimates, I would recommend doing your research on a nice estimating program. The estimating program alone will save you a great deal of time. Take your time and prepare your estimate. Add all the necessary materials and there prices. All the expected overhead cost, such as insurance, permits, and operating cost and the labour cost. A nice estimating process will cut your time considerably.

Reviewing the estimate before bid day is the sixth step. The day before you submit your estimate check to make positive there's no materials missing and the numbers are correct. Submitting an incorrect bid will cost you the job, or cost you money.

Seventh step is to submit the estimate by fax, e-mail or in-person. Know the delivery process necessary. Submit the estimate in a professional format.

Arrange for the deadline before it arrives; do not get caught off guard. Most importantly do not be late; the estimate can be rejected if submitted late.

Estimating can take up plenty of your time; the key is to generate great estimating systems that consist of programs that make the estimating method simple to handle and faster to produce. And keep in mind that you won't get every job, the point is to generate correct estimates, which will better your chances of getting more jobs