Hiring the right contractor - Home Improvement Article

By:kenneth davis

If you own a home and have a project your thinking of, you may need a contractor, BUT you run a risk of being scammed by a fraudulent one. Contractor fraud in the home improvement industry is one of the most complained about industries at the Better Business Bureau. If you think fraud victims are just little old ladies, think again. Some unscrupulous contractors can be so clever that it makes them a hazard to all of us.

Be careful of the so-called "free" inspection or "my crew is in the neighborhood on another job". They seem to have extra materials left over and want to offer you a great discounted price, so they offer a free inspection and guess what? You need work done! The chances are the materials aren't the best, the workmanship is going to be shabby and the price he gives you will be so good you won't be able to pass it up. Oh and I almost forgot, you probably don't need any work done at all!

Things To Look For When Hiring A Contractor:

Check the contractor for a license and insurance

Get references of his previous jobs

Check with The Better Business Bureau for any complaints against his company

Get at least 3 estimates from other contractors

The good guys

The vast majority of home contractors are honest, reputable small-business owners who work hard to make sure that they do high quality work, use good materials. They are dedicated to your satisfaction and earnestly want to earn your recommendation. Many contractors are members of professional organizations or unions that actively work to weed out contractor scams and fraud.

By doing your part to protect yourself, you can prevent getting taken by clever, manipulative contractors.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: tooltown, tool town, cordless tools, hand tools, dewalt cordless tools, milwaukee tools, portercable tools, portercable drywall sander, portercable 690 router, benchdog router table, bench dog, panasonic 15.6volt drill, cordless hammerdrill, cordless saw, power tools, electric drills, power tool parts, power tool accessories, repair tools, power saws, rotary hammer, lion miter saw, air tools, senco pneumatic tools, finishing sander, milwaukee sawzall, bosch rotary hammer, bosch demolition hammer, knaack boxes, van equipment, weatherguard truck boxes, weatherguard ladder racks, bosch tool, dewalt tool, milwaukee tool, milwaukee sawzall, milwaukee drills, milwaukee bandsaw, milwaukee v28 cordless tools, milwaukee tool accessories, senco tool, senco 701xp framing gun, porter cable tool, porter cable sawzall, porter cable vaccuum, porter cable orbital sander, delta machinery, panasonic cordless drill, klein tool, klein linemans pliers, makita tool, makita cordless drill, step ladder, tile cutter, tile saws, core cut saws, channellock pliers, collins coping foot, robertlarson woodworking tools, fein multimaster, adjustable wrenches, estwing hammer, pliers, tool accessories, homeowner tools, contractor services, apex bit, drill bits, easypower bits, streamlight flashlights, visegrip pliers, pls laser, pls tools, marshalltown, stabila level, bessy clamp, stanley, astroarm, oldham saw blades, bosch jig saw, bosch miter boxes, dewalt compound saws, dewalt chop saw, tool parts, kreg jig, kennedy tool box, occidental leather, klein iron workers tools, clc leather, mcguire pouches, leather pouches ridgid tools, ridgid pipe wrenches, ridgid drain cleaning machine, forney welding supplies, sk tools, sk wrenchs, sk socket sets, estwing hammers, task tool, dremel tool, rotozip, arrow staplers, marples woodworking tools, wood chisels, portercable orbital sander, milwaukee tool accessories, porter cable sandpaper, fein sandpaper, bench vise, lenox hole saws, starrett tool, general tool, saw sharpening service, tool repair service, fix power tools, coastal, seattle, washington, tool town, paramus, new jersey, woodworkers, dewalt cordless drills, dewalt cordless tools, dewalt miter boxes, home, streamlight flashlight, dewalt cordless sawsall, inova flashlight, senco air tools, senco finishing gun, senco pinner, contractor tools, repair tools, sandpaper and abrasives, lifting straps, tool chests, the tool chest, woodworker's warehouse, wood workers warehouse, random orbit sanders, detail sanders, electrical tools, masonary tools, masonary trowels, popular tool's, rotary laser, indoor laser, outdoor laser, pitch laser, pipe laser, transit, pipe transit, builders level, wall mount, plumb bob, iron workers tool, linemans tools, metal cutting, steel cutting, metal working, welding, tool warehouse, tool supply, tool discount, cheap tools, carbon brushes, tool estimates, tool pictures, tool store, random orbit sanders

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Ken Davis was born and raised in Bergen County New Jersey, where with his family owns a retail tool store called TOOLTOWN for more than 45 years. Ken started working with the family in his teens and now with his two brothers are running the business and continuing the family tradition of helping and building relationships with the community. You can stop by his store at www.tooltown.com and check out his products, services and other tips-techniques and do it yourself projects

Top Home Improvement Articles
1). Installing Ceramic Tile in a Shower By : Mark J. Donovan Installing ceramic tile in a shower starts with a proper foundation. The foundation consists of WonderBoard or Durock cement board on the walls and a Shower Pan Membrane Liner in the base of the shower, if the shower floor is to be tiled too. WonderBoard or Durock cement board, also known as backerboard, are resistant to water and are ideal materials for applying ceramic tiles to high-moisture areas.
2). Ideas For Kitchen Nooks By : T Agee For many, the most popular room in the house is the kitchen. If you have a kitchen nook that goes along with that, then you’re lucky. But you may also be stumped for how to decorate your nook. Luckily, there are countess options available to you. One thing that you will want to do is choose a style for your nook that won’t overwhelm the kitchen itself.
3). Tips on Cleaning the Lacquered Brass Using Simple Home Made Agent By : Mitch Johnson If you decided to wash the lacquered brass there are some simply tips which you can use.
4). Vanities Are Not Just Plain Wood Anymore By : T Agee It used to be that a bathroom sink vanity was a fairly plain piece of cabinetry with doors underneath and perhaps a set of drawers for storage on one side. Not anymore. Homeowner’s today are leveraging all sorts of interesting materials to create a custom vanity. In fact, one of the most popular bathroom styles these days is to forgo a vanity all together by utilizing old-fashioned pedestal sinks.
5). Benefit From The Stylish Look Of Vertical Blinds By : Peter Wilson Every homeowner wants to make his or her property look as good as possible, both inside and out, and part of doing this is to select the right décor. Selecting the right window coverings is an integral part of getting the right look for home, and can make a big difference to the look and feel of any room. The contemporary look of vertical blinds is a valuable addition to any home improvement, and whatever type of decoration theme you have in the room these window blinds can give the perfect finish.
6). 10 Tips For A Window Coverings Makeover By : Rob Carlton You cannot stand it. The same old dreary windows that do little to add life to your home. It is time for a change. But, where do you start? How do you keep from making an expensive or embarrassing mistake? In fact, how can you know what you really want? 1.Start with one room at a time. There may be the temptation, especially when moving into a new home, to decorate all of the rooms at once.
7). Closet Organizers - Bringing Order To Messy Closets! By : Caroline Smith Closet organizers are cleverly designed to optimize the use of the space available, and can work wonders at transforming a cluttered closet into a neat and tidy storage place. We all know how annoying it is to have an a closet crammed full of old clothes and to never be able to find what we're looking for. Or when we do find that favorite dress, all too often it's lying in a crumpled heap at the bottom of the closet.
8). The big surprise with a Sectional sofa. By : Kenneth Langlet Have you ever had a sectional sofa in your home? If not you are in for a big surprise. The sectional sofa that you can decorate your family living area with is one that is going to complete your style. You can find a sectional sofa that uses plants, animals, that is a solid color that will be made of stripes and even a sectional sofa that will be customized to match your drapes.
9). Five Weekend Project Ideas To Add Value To Your Home By : Craig Rowe Five Weekend Project Ideas To Add Value To Your Home
10). Making A Splash In The Kitchen: Suggestions For Spicing Up Your Backsplash By : Jason Flintstone If it's true that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, then it should come as no surprise that women want a beautiful yet practical kitchen with all the comforts and amenities the queen of the castle deserves. Let's face it, trendy, healthy meals take time and space, and part of creating beautiful meals means creating a beautiful environment to prepare them in.

New Home Improvement Articles
1). Basement Finishing Ideas For DIY Enthusiasts By : Isabel Baldry Basements can be a major selling point when it comes to real estate. Many people like having a finished basement for many different reasons. For those with a little DIY knowledge the basement can easily be turned into the best spot in the house.
2). This Is Why You Should Choose Solar Power By : Bryan Wong The amount of solar power that the Earth receives from the sun is estimated to be 770 trillion kilowatts or an amount 5,000 times bigger than the sum of all energy resources we are using. You can also profit from this and save money read here how...
3). Ensuring Your Air Conditioner is Running Efficiently By : Gail Metcalf It is scorching outside and you know the air conditioning is going to cost you on that next bill, but what else can you do?
4). Installing A Relaxing Indoor Hot Tub By : Lee Dobbins Some important things to think about if you are considering an indoor hot tub.
5). Azek Trim Adds Value To Your Home By : Bob Prezzano There are a lot of reasons why builders prefer Azek trim. Perhaps the foremost preference is due to its material consistency.
6). Methods to Control Mosquitos By : Gail Metcalf You need to protect yourself from mosquitoes. When you think about mosquito pest control by netting, you could break it down into individual control and public control.
7). Kitchen Remodeling from a Tropical Paradise By : Chris Campbell Having your kitchen remodeled is really no big deal, as long as you do it while your lying on the beach. Preferably a beach on a warm tropical island, with a pleasant trade wind keeping your margarita cool from the oh so scorching rays of the sun.
8). Get Yourself A Home Improvement Book By : William King A home improvement book can help you with all of your remodeling needs. A good book will be full of information on how to get the job done right. If you are unclear about how a job needs to be done, referencing it in a book can be a major benefit to you.
9). Ideas For Kitchen Nooks By : T Agee For many, the most popular room in the house is the kitchen. If you have a kitchen nook that goes along with that, then you’re lucky. But you may also be stumped for how to decorate your nook. Luckily, there are countess options available to you. One thing that you will want to do is choose a style for your nook that won’t overwhelm the kitchen itself.
10). Vanities Are Not Just Plain Wood Anymore By : T Agee It used to be that a bathroom sink vanity was a fairly plain piece of cabinetry with doors underneath and perhaps a set of drawers for storage on one side. Not anymore. Homeowner’s today are leveraging all sorts of interesting materials to create a custom vanity. In fact, one of the most popular bathroom styles these days is to forgo a vanity all together by utilizing old-fashioned pedestal sinks.