Finding the right home improvement company to update or renovate your home doesn’t have to be a stressful and disheartening process. Yet most homeowners have no idea where to start because they are bombarded with bad press about contractors who are dishonest, inexperienced and downright unreliable. Homeowners today are wary of who they can trust.
Home Improvement Complaints and Scams:
“With lower-rate mortgages tempting homeowners to trade up to a bigger house, or to refinance and expand or repair their existing home, we’re finding that construction and home improvement activity is way up, and with it is the number of complaints in those areas,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Edwin R. Rodriguez. (Consumer Affairs, January 2006)
“Home improvement complaints rank as the top consumer complaint in Connecticut and elsewhere across the country,” Rodriguez said. “While home improvements themselves can be expensive, any problems that arise often cost consumers thousands more to fix. Unfortunately, there have been many cases where a homeowner is left with a huge problem and has no financial means of getting it repaired.” (Consumer Affairs, June 2006)
Basic scams usually do not occur with accredited companies, so make sure the company you use is licensed. “The law requires home improvement contractors to register and follow certain procedures for a reason, to protect homeowners,” Rodriguez said. “This includes complying with state laws that assure consumers a level of financial protection.” (Consumer Affairs, June 2006)
Be Wary of Certain Sales Tactic:
According to the National Consumer Law Center at consumerlaw.org, unscrupulous contractors mostly target senior citizens. Do not fall into the trap of the following sales tactics that take advantage of homeowners:
• “Bait and Switch” – offers low prices for installed items like windows and home siding, and then tells the homeowner the item is out of stock and can only be replaced with a high-priced substitute.
• Misrepresent the urgency of a needed repair.
• Claim the item is more expensive than advertised because it has to be “custom made” to fit the home.
• Misrepresent that the consumer is receiving a discount because the home is selected to model the repair when, in reality, the consumer is paying market price or more.
• Misrepresent the energy savings, health benefits and value added to the home.
• Misrepresent the terms on which financing is likely to be arranged.
Practices to Follow for Finding the Right Contractor:
If you hire a contractor with a license and a good reputation (such as the Home Remodelers Group®), you are guaranteed to avoid unfinished work, financial wrongdoing and fraud.
The National Consumer Law Center has a list of suggestions for homeowners looking for a home improvement company:
• Do not hire an unknown contractor that solicits business by knocking on your door. Deal with companies recommended by friends or reputable building supply stores.
• Before agreeing to hire any home improvement contractor, get a second estimate for the same work from another contractor.
• Get references for the contractor and speak to those references. Ask about satisfaction and any problems that arose.
• Look at other work performed by the same contractor.
• Many states require contractors to be licensed and/or bonded. Check with the state licensing body to see if the contractor you are considering is licensed.
• Get a written contract describing explicit specifications of the work, the price (including details of any financing or credit terms), the responsibility for cleaning up, and the hourly rate for any added work. Ask for guarantees and other promises to be made in writing.
• If the written documents are different from oral promises, do not sign them.
• A 3-day right-to-cancel applies to door-to-door sales and home improvement loans even after the papers have been signed.
• Do not allow a contractor to begin work until financial arrangements to pay for the work are complete.
• Do not agree to pay the final payment until the project is finished.
• Do not consolidate other debts with a home improvement loan.
• If problems with a contractor or home improvement lender arise, get help from a lawyer or housing counselor immediately.
Take Care of Your Home:
The Home Remodelers Group® has been in business since 1964 and there is a simple reason for our longevity. We take great pride in helping our customers beautify their homes, we enjoy our work and we want our customers to be happy with their homes. The Home Remodelers Goup® is licensed and insured so you can feel secure when working with us. Before you sign any contract, we provide a written estimate and detailed information on the scope of the project. You’ll know exactly what you are getting before we do anything. We do this to provide our customers with peace of mind. We have survived in this business because we focus on customer satisfaction, attention to customer service and offer quality products at a fair price.
Think of your home like a child that needs a doctor. You would take your child to a licensed and professional doctor, not someone that comes to your door. So make sure your home receives the care it deserves by hiring experienced and well-accredited home improvement professionals.
For more information visit http://www.homeremodelersgroup.com/?source=articles
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Help answer the question about home
Can you sell a home with vivid interior paint colors?Hi. I have a home that was new construction. It was originally painted white. I absolutely hate white and tan walls. All of the rooms have color, and when I say color I mean eggplant purple, red, hunter green…The home's floorplan is very boxy, each room is a box and there aren't many halls, so character definition is paramount. If the home was just white, or tan, it would be one large big box. Plus, I am a 'vivid' person so I wanted my home to reflect who I am, not following the latest trend. I've read that such colors are a turnoff to buyers. Is that true? I don't want to repaint it tan when it is time to sell because it would cost thousands (the home is over 4500 sq ft). It has been my understanding, at least for me personally, that what helps sell a home is if the buyer sees something in it that they like. There's got to be people who can appreciate color.
I am 32 years old and I moved from home in 2005 and I still miss home sometimes. I think about it all the time. Sometimes you never get over it. You may need to go back and see if there is a reason why you wouldnt want to be there and maybe that will change your mind. I recently went back home and spoke with old friends. The economy is so bad there, hardly anyone is working and I thought…hmmm I better be grateful for where I am now. I could be back home in poverty but instead I am blessed with a great career, nice home and car and still striving. But if you go back and its better you may have the adverse affect. LOL! Good luck!
You used the words paid, pay, money, spend, and they are all correct. It is all about the money, yours specifically, and how much of it the insurance industry can get (steal).
The most hilarious movie I’ve ever seen. View it at kookica
Are these actual shots?? Some of these look animated.
Sure, there are many people who appreciate color: THEIR colors, that THEY choose. If you don't want to paint every room, I would paint the 'family rooms'; the kitchen, living room, and den soft calming colors. They don't have to be starch white, but a beige or nearwhite grey would do.
You want people to be able to see this as "their" home when you sell it; help them imagine this.
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T his is one fkking commercial bullcrap movie !! its not even a real docu!
This is just brainwashing people to guy buy even more expensive stuff, so called good for the environment and nature <_<
Seriously , I mean watch the quality.. they wouldnt pump this much money if they dont make serious profit out of it! AND then posting it FREE on YOUTUBE.
.. the only problem here is the government and the banks, especially in USA
( sorry for the bad english )
@samalind
We wouldnt be human if we didnt
To have a mortgage loan you must have land involved, so no trailer park rentals. Lender's are not fond of mobile homes because they lose value – unlike a stick-built home which will appreciate in value. You are unlikely to find 100% financing for a mobile home. 90% or less is the norm and that is with good credit. Your interest rate will be higher as well.
If you are buying this as an investment (in your own future-not as an investment property) you should look into a modular home. Anything but a mobile. You won't get out what you put into a mobile. That said, there are some very nice mobile homes out there.
Wonderful!! If you want to see for free you have to view this great site kookica!
Start living with in there means! City county and state governments make decisions that affect the economic welfare of there citizens. They need to deal with the consequences. Just like you and I have to.
Maybe if the re salts of there decisions, hits in there own wallet they will start making better choices.
It’s incredible how we humans manage to argue and fight over EVERYTHING instead of joining our forces to make a greater good.
If you *don't* get married, and buy the house together, you would have to pick a credit and then split it. If you opt for her to get the $8000, she can apply for all of it. (And runs the risk of paying the entire amount back.) If you opt for the $6500 credit, the details aren't out, but presumably you would claim the entire $6500 and she would claim $0.
Some banks won't deal with a manufactured/mobile in a park so that is good that it isn't.
Is it a double or single wide?
That also makes a difference when it comes selling time.
Good Luck!
@qwertywerty189
Dude, dont you get it ? All they care about is your money .. the hell with the trees .. thats what they think!
And you believe them ?
All their evidence, is just put in a way to make you believe them!
All they say is for example : GO BUY new expensive cars because its good for the environment.
You get the point?
yes it would
Only one member of the family can claim the moving expenses 9the person who is moving to start a new job or attend school. That person will need to fill form T1M (moving expenses deduction)
@dfk12 Yes, I definitely need to go back to school so I can master English and grammar to the degree that you have. You sure showed me! xD
hat are we waiting for?
Were waiting till its too late.
It us human nature to procrastinate.
So to this end we are all doomed
For the end we create has finally bloomed