home maintenance Archives - Arrow Hill Cottage

10 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN HIRING A CONTRACTOR

Nobody loves your house like you do. Nobody. Even if that house is still lines on a page – it will never bear the same emotional connection to anyone other than you and those who will reside under it’s roof.

Whether you are looking for someone to build your dream house or need an extra hand with a tricky remodel project, there are 10 things you need to know before hiring someone to work on your house.

1. IT’S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP

It might be tough for you to hand over the reigns. Maybe you have tackled a variety of projects in the past all on your own and have come out successful. You have pride in your work, no doubt. But it is also okay to realize that maybe you can’t do everything on your own.

Whether it is a time constraint issue or just the fact that you do not have the skills to complete the task at hand, don’t feel ashamed. There are people who are specialized in this work, who are just waiting for your phone call.

2. DETERMINE IF YOU NEED A CONTRACTOR

Do you need a full blown general contractor, or someone who specializes in one specific area. Are you looking for a ‘jack of all trades’ handyman or a license professional? The size of the project will likely be a deciding factor in this decision.

If a small area of your existing home needs new flooring, for example, hiring a handyman may be perfectly fine. The large and complicated projects – and whole house builds – should be left to the seasoned contractors.

3. ASK TRUSTED FRIENDS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Who better to get referrals from than the people you know and trust? This is simple, and free word of mouth marketing. It is why contractors are looking to do their best work. They know that their reputation will precede them.

You may also get good results from others living in your same community – by posting on an online message board. You might be surprised to learn that the neighbor next door had the same type of work done on their home recently. If you approach the subject carefully, you may be able to find out what they paid their contractor for their similar project, something that may come in handy when considering the bids you are given.

4. PREPARE A LIST OF QUESTIONS

Call a minimum of two different contractors. Ask them the same questions, and write down their responses. Their answers may give you peace or give you pause. Some of the more common questions to ask include:

How long have you been in business? Obviously, a contractor who has been in the business locally for many years will have the experience and references to back up their work. That doesn’t mean you need to count out the new guy though. They may be hungry to build their business and put forth their best effort.

How many projects like mine have you completed in the last year? It won’t hurt to also ask to see examples of their work.

Do you have a license? The requirement varies from state to state, and also between trades. Check this site for details on state specific licensing requirements.

Can I see your certificate of insurance? Contractors should have both liability insurance and workers’ compensation for the specific job they are doing. Seeing the physical certificates is important.

Who are your main suppliers? Contractors will generally work with supply companies time and time again. Consider them additional references. Go ahead and call the suppliers (tile stores, lumberyards, home improvement stores) and find out if the contractor does reliable work or if they have left a path of unhappy customers. If a contractor is unwilling to offer suppliers names, you can consider he or she has something to hide.

What is the size of your crew? How many people will be working on my project? It is unlikely that the contractor themselves will be doing much, if any of the work on your project. They generally will have a crew, whether that is 2 or 20+ employees. Ask to meet with the foreman who would potentially be heading your project – preferably visiting with him or her on a current job site. You will be working closely with this person, and it is important to determine early in the game if your personalities mesh. Visiting on the job will provide an added bonus of allowing you to witness if their work is running smoothly.

Do you bid estimates or offer fixed prices? If possible, ask the contractor to provide you with a breakdown of how much each portion of the project will cost, including the breakdown of how much will be applied toward materials and labor expenses.

Will you be pulling the permits and scheduling inspections? The answer to this question should be yes. Not only should the contractor be aware of which pieces of the project will require permits and inspections and how to get them, he should also be willing to do the leg work.

What is your timeline for completing my project? Determine when they would be able to start the job. If they are booked up and you have a project that is time sensitive, you may need to move on. Ask the contractor to estimate how long the job may take, and also what factors may delay progress (weather? other jobs they are working on, etc).

What is your typical working day schedule? Determining the core hours your contractor and his crew plan to operate will help you know what to expect. Do they start early in the morning? When are the tools packed up for the night? Also ask what type of noise level can be expected and if they want you to be present at any point during the day.

How will you care for my home during your time there? Find out what the protocol is for storing supplies and tools for projects that span multiple days and learn if you can expect a daily site clean-up. Also be sure to ask what measures will be taken to protect the portion of your home that is not included in the project (if a remodel). For example – will they be sealing off the work zone?

The communication between contractor and homeowner is an important one – and it shouldn’t be a one sided conversation. Before the project is handed to them a good contractor should have some questions for you as well!

5. DETERMINE A PAYMENT PLAN

The Better Business Bureau advises against paying in full upfront for a job that has yet to be completed – but you may have to make an early payment for supplies. From there you will need to discuss how much will need to be paid at what point during the project. Your chosen contractor should be able to give you a reasonable payment schedule.

6. OBTAIN A WRITTEN CONTRACT

Make sure that all the bases are covered and written down. Even if your state does not require a written contract, ask for one. Before signing, make sure it includes all of the following information:

The contractor’s name, address, phone and license number (if required)

Details on the estimated start and completion date

Payment schedule

The contractor’s agreement to obtain necessary permits

Information about how change orders will be handled

A list of materials that will be used – the more detailed the better. Determine who is responsible for choosing the products that will be purchased at a later date, and who is responsible for paying for them (If it is in the budget, know what ‘allowance’ will be given to each item)

A list of what the contractor is or is not responsible for

7. KEEP RECORDS OF COMMUNICATION

Change orders are quite common during construction. They can be as small as moving the location of a light switch or as large as eliminating an entire portion of the project. Whenever a homeowner and contractor or builder agree on a change, it needs to be documented. Keep notes of these changes in a file, including the date they were made, who discussed the changes with you, and if the monetary impact was discussed.

8. BE PRESENT

Very rare is the situation where the homeowner shakes hands with their contractor and walks away until the construction is finished. It is understandable that you will want to know what is going on with the project, but it is important to note that a construction zone is a dangerous place to be.

You should discuss with your contractor early in the process how often you plan to drop in to check on things. It is always best that when walking on the construction site you do so with the job foreman – who can give you a tour of what has been completed and point out what is to come. For job site safety tips, check out this post from Construction Dive – which highlights 5 ways to keep the homeowner safe when they visit the job site.

9. FINISH THE JOB WITH A CHECKLIST

Before that final payment is made, check to make sure these things have been done and/or collected:

The work has been completed to the specifications outlined in the contract. As the homeowner, you should inspect the final product to be sure it meets your satisfaction.

Written warranties on products and services, including who will honor them and the expiration date of each

Written proof that all subcontractors and suppliers have been paid in full

The job site has been cleaned of debris and extra construction material

10. BEWARE OF SCAMS

If you have done your research and walked through steps one through nine, chances are number 10 won’t be a problem; But be aware that there are contractor scams out there. You should be wary of any contractor who:

Knocks on your door asking for work and offering you money for the referrals you make

Pressures you to make a decision more quickly than you are ready

Only accepts cash or asks you to pay upfront for the job

Asks you to obtain the building permits

Offers a ‘lifetime warranty’ or long term guarantee

Doesn’t list a telephone number in the local business directory

I hope that this list of 10 things to consider when hiring a contractor is helpful as you prepare for your next house project.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAIN GUTTERS

It’s that time of year again. The leaves are turning beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red. Before you know it, the temps will drop; And sadly, so will the leaves. It is a beautiful, magical sight; But if you own a house that has rain gutters, you need to know that those small, colorful leaves could turn into big problems if left unattended too long.

Though the topic can be a bit dull, the importance is well worth a talk. And so, to help you maintain your home, I give you this post – which includes everything you need to know about rain gutters.

I’m going to start off by saying that rain gutters are not an absolute must have. If your house has an appropriate amount of slope away from the foundation, and the level of rainfall in your region is minimal, your house will likely be just fine without them. Not every house has rain gutters or needs them, but many do. Let’s talk about why.

WHY DOES MY HOUSE NEED RAIN GUTTERS?

It is no secret that rain gutters are set in place to handle precipitation. Insurance adjusters have reported that approximately 10% of all home claims can be linked to damage from rainfall. You may also be interested to know that only 1 inch of rainfall equals 600 gallons of water flowing off of the roof of a typical residential home. That’s a whole lot of water that needs to find a place to go! There are 4 main reasons rain gutters are recommended:

Prevent basement flooding. This may be the most familiar homeowner complaint related to rainfall. Whether you’ve been woken from a deep sleep to the sound of a sump pump alarm, or your socks have been soaked by a standing water surprise, the feeling is the same. Headache. If you find water in your basement not only will the cleanup be a massive chore, you will also need to keep a close eye on the drying out process to ensure that mold doesn’t develop.
Protect the foundation. The foundation holds up your house. It’s kind of a big deal. And while some settling of a foundation is natural, if it settles too quickly you may notice warped floors, and cracks in your walls and ceilings. Foundation reconstruction is arguably the most costly repair a homeowner can face, and finding a way to avoid expensive repairs is just plain common sense.
Avoid erosion. Though houses are supposed to be built on a slight slope that guides rainfall away from the foundation, sadly this isn’t always the case. Without rain gutters, the water will drop from the roof edge in a forceful way, and wash a little more soil away each time there is rainfall. Eventually the ground will slope toward the foundation which, as we just covered, is a giant no no. Too much water can also wreak havoc on planting beds and landscaping, by flooding the flowers and shrubs.
Slow the deterioration of the vertical elements of your home, such as siding and windows. When gutters aren’t used, the rainfall will drip onto the siding. The water can then easily pool at the tops of door and window frames and on window sills, which over time will cause deterioration and rot. Mildew and mold are likely to develop on wet siding, which means even more cleaning and maintenance.

As you can see, gutters can be mighty important. But even the best tool won’t work well if it isn’t installed properly. That brings us to the next point. Installation.

WHERE AND HOW ARE RAIN GUTTERS INSTALLED?

There is a wide variety of gutter styles, shapes and colors on the market today – which means you should be able to find a type that fits seamlessly with the design of your home. Houselogic has an extensive article about the various looks and price points of gutters you have to choose from.

Once the choice is made, you will need to review the basics about where and how to install the rain gutters so that they function properly.

Simply speaking, the gutters should be positioned at the roofs lowest point, just below the eaves, as demonstrated in the photo below. This arrangement allows for gravity to do its job – with the collection happening just before the rainwater would leave the roof had the gutters not been in place.

(photo credit)

A properly built rain gutter system includes the horizontal gutters, which are connected together with ‘joiner pieces’. The horizontal gutter pieces then connect, via a drop outlet, to a vertical downspout, which carries the rainfall safely toward the ground. The final portion of downspout should slope with the grade of the land, away from the foundation. Many times a splash block will be placed where the water exits the downspout, to allow for an even more smooth distribution.

Each type of gutter will require slightly different installation techniques, so it is important that you read the manufacturer’s instructions if installing on your own, or hire a professional to get the job done.

So, great. You’ve realized the importance of gutters and have had them installed properly. Now you can just sit back and not worry at all when those downpours come, right? Wrong! One of the biggest complaints homeowners have about rain gutters is that they have a tendency to get clogged with leaves, and debris from the roof. The good news is that as long as you keep on top of inspecting and cleaning your rain gutters they should be able to provide you all the previously listed benefits for many years.

WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE FOR INSPECTING & CLEANING RAIN GUTTERS?

At a bare minimum your rain gutters should get a thorough look over once per year. If your yard has many overhanging trees or if you live in an area that receives a higher level of rainfall, you should check them twice per year – once in the early Spring and once in late Fall. It is also a good idea to make sure the gutters are all clear after large storms.

(photo credit)

Put on a long sleeved shirt, work gloves and goggles, and a pair of non slip shoes. Grab a good tall step ladder and place it on level ground. Remember to never stand on the top of the ladder, as you could easily lose your balance. Working in sections, use a plastic gutter scoop or garden trowel to remove the gunk and leaves. Place the debris in a bucket or allow it to fall on a drop cloth you previously positioned on the ground below.

Once the bulk of the debris and leaves have been removed, use a pressure washer or a garden hose with a high pressure hose nozzle , and spray the gutter – working toward the downspout. Use a stiff brush to remove any debris that has hardened, then spray again. At this point the water should be flowing freely out of the downspout. If not, it is likely that a clog still exists in the vertical portion of the downspout. You may need to use a plumbing auger to dislodge the material.

If you would like more detailed instructions on how to clean your rain gutters, check out this in depth article from HomeTips.com

Nice work! Now that your gutters are cleaned out, you can check that off of your seasonal To-Do list! Are you now looking at your house wondering what other chores you should tackle before winter? I have that list already prepared, as a free resource in the library. Click HERE for access.

HOW CAN I GET OUT OF CLEANING MY RAIN GUTTERS?

Ok. I get it. Time is precious and those moments spent on the ladder could be allocated in a variety of other ways. Marketers realize this and have come up with quite a few solutions to help you out. Click below for more detailed information on each product.

Gutter Covers

Foam Gutter Filter Inserts

Gutter Strainers

If these tools don’t do the trick, you can always hire a professional. Yes, there are people out there who have the desire and expertise to tackle this chore for you. Check your local Angie’s List to get quotes from professionals in your area. The average expense will be between $50 and $200, depending on the size of your house.

It’s important to note that even with these additional measures, sediment will still develop in your gutters over time – albeit much more slowly.

IS THERE A RAIN GUTTER ALTERNATIVE?

If you really don’t want to deal with rain gutter maintenance or if you are concerned that the look of gutters will distract from the overall style and curb appeal of your house, there is a way you can avoid them all-together. Fine Homebuilding has written an interesting article on in-ground gutters that is worth a read.

I hope this post has given you insight into the usefulness of rain gutters, how to properly maintain and clean them, and what you can use as an alternative if they are not an option for your house. With this information, you are taking a big step in protecting your largest asset – your home.

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