Sunday 11 August 2013

How To Find Contractors License Number, Basics For Finding A Good Contractor

The search for a reliable building contractor can be an anxious experience. You can learn a very difficult lesson by choosing the wrong firm, or by not creating clear language in a contract negotiation. It’s important to be detail oriented in every phase of the development project. Here are some tips on how to find a contractor in your area.

  • Personal referrals are a common way to begin your search. Ask professionals in the industry such as insurance or real estate agents. Your local hardware or lumber store will definitely be able to point you in the right direction.
  • Many reliable companies are part of regional and national trade associations which are accessible online.
  • Remember if you do find a local company online, look up some reviews and see what the community is saying about them.
  • Hire local. You don’t want to risk hiring someone from out of state that has the ability to disappear after a job is “done”. You want a company to stand by their work and be accessible should there be any follow-up issues.
Network, Ask Around, Talk

Ideally property owners should network with each other to find reliable contractors, so if you know any neighbors or people who have recently had some construction done, don’t hesitate to ask for their guidance. The local chamber of commerce can tell you how to find a contractors license number. The chamber office can tell you if they are in good standing and will appear at any local business events or trade shows. You might be able to attend one of these shows where you can listen to their presentation about the business and why customers have been satisfied with their work over the years. It is essential to find a licensed contractor. Contact an insurance agent who works with homeowner’s insurance. They can provide you a direct referral towards a contractor who has an insurance policy.

Creating A Contract

During the hiring phase have the contractor visit your project site and come up with a quote. If you decide you want to hire them make sure everything is agreed upon in writing. Your contract must be specific towards rate of pay, cost of materials, and expected time on the job.

Be Specific

Feel free to add as much information to the contract as you like. A good contractor will want to make sure they are covered too in the event of a problem so they shouldn’t have an issue getting specific in a contract. It is better to be safe and to cover yourself because things don’t always go according to plan and if a job is not done according to the contract you signed then you have the written document to take someone to court as a last resort.
You can log on to an industry website for the Associated Builders and Contractors, but the best website to find detailed information on how to find a licensed contractor is www.real-estate-yogi.com. Call them for a free consultation with any of your questions regarding building contractors local to your area of the country. Their phone number is 1-800-987-1397.

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Finding Excellent Subcontractors In Your Area!

After 10 years of saving and waiting, we’re finally able to build our dream house. The thing is that neither of us knows much about constructing a home, so I went to Real-estate-yogi.com to find out about it. This no-cost website was full of helpful information about the process of putting up a house, especially when it came to how to find subcontractors. If you’re in the same position I am – trying to get a house built properly – read on to learn some of what I found out.


Did you know that you have to find a contractor before finding a subcontractor? You’d think that makes sense, but as someone completely unschooled in the art of erecting a home, I wouldn't have known which comes first. We hired our contractor, and from there, we took Real-estate-yogi.com advised us about getting the subcontractors lined up. I found that our contractor was an excellent place to begin our search because he’s been in the business for years and was comfortable with many companies that could provide foundation work or set up a septic tank, etc. There’s a lot that goes into home construction, and I’m glad we chose the contractor we did.

I wanted to know how to hire subcontractors besides relying on our contractor’s input, so Real-estate-yogi.com provided a whole slew of data about what to look for and where to find it. The process is like hiring our contractor was, but the scope is more limited. We had to draw a detailed plan of the subcontractor’s part of the project, including written instructions and sketched diagrams. Next, we had to go looking for the best bid, which isn’t necessarily the lowest one; it may be that a really low offer indicates the use of inferior materials or craftsmanship. After that, we had to ensure that the subcontractor is properly licensed and insured, and we had to devise a suitable contract which clearly defined the type of work to be done, the price for the work, and the payment schedule.  We also had to specify who was doing the clean-up and debris removal, and when it was to be done, and we got a warranty in writing in case anything went wrong. Whew!

Because of Real-estate-yogi.com, I was able to find subcontractors. I asked around to friends and family members that have had work done. I visited with vendors who deal with these professionals daily. I stopped by nearby construction projects, introduced myself, and got business cards form some of the subcontractors on-site. If it wasn’t for this user-friendly, free website, we’d never have gotten through the building of our new home. If you need some guidance with your construction project, give the website a call at 1-800-987-1397 for a free initial consultation. 

Thursday 30 May 2013

Easy Ways to Find a Local Contractor!

One of the best ways to track the reputation of a contractor is to research the contractor’s license. Do you know how to find a contractor’s license number? It is essential to know this information as it will help you find out a great deal of information about a contractor before you hire him to do any work for you.

Finding a Local Contractor

Do you know the best way to find a local contractor? Don’t worry, I didn’t either when I needed to do some work on my house, but fortunately one of my co-workers told me about Real-Estate-Yogi.com, and I was able to obtain a great deal of the information I needed by visiting the website. Some of the things I found included:
  • How to research a contractor’s license
  • How to obtain references on an individual contractor
  • How to recognize a non-reputable contractor
  • The importance of researching the experience and reputation of a contractor
  • How to know when you need a specialty contractor
The key to choosing the right local contractor is in the research. Allow one of the Real Estate Yogi legal or financial experts help you assess what you need to do to ensure you choose the right company for the job. Fill out the contact information form you find on the website, and someone will contact you immediately.

Qualifications for a Loan

Qualifying for a home improvement personal loan varies among lenders. While some lenders will insist on the borrower’s willingness to put up his property as collateral for the loan, other lenders will not have the same requirement. There are many factors that play roles in this decision including the credit and financial stability of the borrower. I have seen borrowers do $10,000 in home improvements on a signature loan but have also seen those with half that amount having to put up their homes as collateral. You will need to conduct research in order to determine what you will need to do.

Building a New Kitchen

Are you looking to upgrade your kitchen? More people are investing in new home kitchens in the current market because they want to modernize their kitchens and improve the potential for selling their home at some point in the future. The more improvements you make to your home the better the chances are of selling it at a decent price. My neighbor sold his house within just two weeks after upgrading the kitchen. He previously took his home off the market after he had the house on the market for six months without any success.

Buying your first home can be exciting and scary, but fortunately there are sites such as www.real-estate-yogi.com that are packed with an abundance of information on various aspects of the buying process. This website is well-established, and in addition to all the helpful articles and home-buying tips, it also includes a free database of over 250,000 legal and financial consultants with offices all across North America. If you are considering buying your first home, you should think about calling 1-800-987-1397 to schedule a free consultation.

Sunday 19 May 2013

Steps to Hiring an Efficient Contractor!!

Have you ever had one of those days when everything around you goes berserk? I have. Let me tell you about it. On the same day that my daughter got into a minor car accident, my son got into a fist fight at school (What?? He’s not a fighter!), and my husband’s car broke down, meaning he had to take mine to work. To top that off, I found that I needed to find a roofing contractor – fast! There was a huge hole in the roof that was leaking water into the attic and second floor bathroom! I had no idea how to find a roofing contractor, so I called my brother-in-law, who rushed over with a tarp to cover the hole for the time being. Once that was done, I went online to Real-estate-yogi.com, which helped me immeasurably. Not only does this free website provide information on financing a home purchase, it also offers tips on finding home repair contractors.


Real-estate-yogi.com had many suggestions about finding contractors in your area, such as talking to others who've had roof repairs done. I made a few calls to friends and neighbors, and one name came up in every conversation as being a good contractor. I also checked with the local hardware store manager to ask what he thought of this roofer, and he highly recommended the guy, which gave me confidence in his abilities. I found that it isn't hard to find contractors; with just a few telephone calls, I was able to get a good idea of which one to hire.

Because I tend to be very thorough in whatever I do, I wanted to get all the information I could on this particular home repair contractor. I stayed online with Real-estate-yogi.com and learned how to find a roofing contractor whose license and insurance were easily provable. Most states have a register of these business people, and I went to ours and looked the guy up. Sure enough, there was his valid license and the name of his insurance carrier. Feeling secure in my decision, I gave the man a call, and, much to my surprise, he came right over! He laughingly explained that he didn't have much work on rainy days, so here he was to take a look at the hole in my roof and write up an estimate for me. His price was reasonable and the work was done the next dry day.

I’m very grateful to www.real-estate-yogi.com for its guidance through this process. If you ever need to find a roofing contractor, the well-trained, knowledgeable staff members are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To get your free initial consultation, dial 1-800-987-1397. Oh, by the way, my daughter is fine, my son is grounded, and my husband’s car has been fixed.

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Looking for a Good Local Contractor?

If you own a house for a long enough time there will come a time when you either need to make some repairs, or some home improvements. This could be fixing a leaky roof, repairing storm damage, or perhaps making additions like a deck or pool. Maybe you are handy with a hammer and saw, but any homeowner should know how to find a licensed contractor in their area who can be of immediate and reliable service.
  • Go online and search for a company that has a permanent location in your area of the state. Your preference should be one that has had a long history of experience working locally.
  • Make sure whoever you hire has a personal insurance plan. This would be their compensation and liability insurance plans. You never know what can unexpectedly go wrong during a building project. Be covered.
  • If there are several contractors in your area, get several quotes. There is nothing wrong with shopping around to find the best deal. Don’t sacrifice time or money for quality. You can end up paying more in the long run.
  • Make sure your contract is thorough. Get every detail in writing.

Your vision

So what type of project are you considering? During your search to find a contractor in your area you will learn that there are generally three types. A general building contractor works mainly on structures such as rooms and additions to your home. An engineering contractor will have specific knowledge of certain practices such as excavating that space for a pool, or installing a new septic system. Specialty contractors are those that do specific tasks such as electrical, plumbing, flooring, or working on your roof.

Get a few quotes

Once you made the final decisions on what you plan to do with you new project you can begin inviting suitable contractors over to talk about an estimate. They’ll probably take some measurements, look at their schedule, think about the material costs and labor associated and then put together a quote for you. It’s always good to get a second opinion from a competing company, so don’t sign on the dotted line right away. After you've had two or three quotes in front of you, decide what’s best for your budget and schedule, and write up a contract that covers everything.

Make up a good contract

Depending on the complexity of the project the company may need to find subcontractors to handle specific tasks. This can sometimes change the price dramatically. Most likely a skilled contractor will know if they will need the help of subcontractors before they begin working. To be safe, anticipate this and make sure no hidden fees can be charged by getting everything in writing. All materials and labor hours should be accounted for in the contract before signing anything.

The people at www.real-estate-yogi.com would like to help you with your building project. They know how to find a skilled contractor’s license number in your part of the country and are available seven days a week for free consultation at 1-800-987-1397.

Sunday 21 April 2013

Getting the right Contractor for Your Home Repairs or Projects

Knowing how to find a good general contractor is something every homeowner should become familiar with. I live in a part of the country where houses are battered every year by severe storms. My neighbors and I are in need of making constant repairs to our homes, but most people will want to know where to find a contractor for even simple home improvement projects.


Don't fall for a scam, hire an honest professional

All too often people can  become the victim of home repair and improvement scams. You replace your roof by an out of state contractor and end up standing in puddles of water in their living room because of poor roofing. Now where was that contract again? Other contractors ask for money upfront and then disappear never to be heard from again. Therefore it is important to be a smart negotiator and shop for the best and most honest, professional deals available.
  • Always stay local. You will want to look for someone who has a permanent place of business in your hometown. Ask your insurance company for a recommendation. Most insurance companies will have agreements with the best contractors in your area.
  • Look for reviews. You can also contact the better business bureau to see if they have any recent complaints. Get a list of references from the prospective contractor and call these previous clients to ask about their experience.
  • Once you have decided on a contractor get everything in writing.
This will include labor, material costs, and the final total. You may get several quotes from different contractors and do a little shopping yourself to see who has the best deal available. Request a provision on the quotes that states you need to be notified if anything changes happen that need to be addressed. An example of a change might be if they had to find a Subcontractor for a specific unforeseen task. This will protect you from unexpected charges.

How to get started

To find a contractor go online and simply type in a search engine "contractors in..." whatever state or town you reside. Most likely there will be a list of available contractors immediately that you might even be familiar with. Collect a list of two or three contractors and call your insurance company and tell them "I'm trying to find a contractor in my area, are you familiar with these businesses?" Once you've done some preliminary background checks invite the contractors over to have a look at the repairs needed or whatever project you are planning for your home. Get several quotes together and price shop for the best deal.

Remember to never pay for anything upfront. Always get every detail in writing to cover yourself in the event of any problems. If they aren't willing to do exactly what you demand then you can simply keep searching for a contractor who will work well with you. You can find great help at www.Real-Estate-Yogi.Com. They will know of contractors in your area, so call them at 1-800-987-1397.

Friday 29 March 2013

How To Find A Good Contractor Home Improvement

This past spring I had been thinking about some home improvement projects. I was going to be having a little bit of extra time on my hands. I had a child on the way and my work had granted me some time off. I had envisioned a larger deck, and maybe an addition to the living room which would inevitably require some new roofing. I have some rudimentary carpenter skills, but I knew right away that my dreams were well above what I could do myself. Plus, I had no experience with the legal paperwork involved. I knew I needed to start looking for some professional help.

Go online and do some digging

Thankfully we live in the era of the internet which has opened opportunities everywhere. I used it to research contractors. I started with a basic search by typing "How to find a good contractor for home improvement", and went from there.  Here are some tips I used to help find a contractor.
  • Don't just pick the one with the best advertisement. Sometimes these ads are created by good marketers, but poor carpenters. Do a little digging and find a contractor with good experience, a proper license and insurance.
  • Know what type of contractor you are looking for: General Engineering, General Building, or Specialty contractors.
  • Get several quotes. Contractors are usually happy to give a rough estimate based on the information you give them. Compare the quotes and do some price shopping.
  • Find a contractor with a solid reputation for good honest work. They will almost always have a permanent office location. This shows stability and can provide you with some assurance your job will be done right, because they have nowhere to run if it's done wrong!
  • When you decide on a contractor get everything that will be done written down in the contract. This will include the prices for labor and materials as well as estimated time on the job. By having everything in writing you will be covering yourself in the event of a problem.

               

Ask around

Finding a good contractor was an interesting experience. After taking down a few names, numbers and addresses, I asked around among-st friends and colleagues if anyone had experience with certain companies. With the advent of review websites you can also look online to see if there have been any bad reviews about companies. For my needs I felt that I'd need to find a general building contractor and perhaps one that knew where to find a roofing contractor. I made several calls and spoke briefly about my projects. I had a few guys stop by the house from a couple different companies I liked and they took some measurements. Within a couple days I had some quotes to go on and I made a decision I felt comfortable with.

Be detail oriented

I had a contractor come over to go over the details. We sat in my living room for about an hour and wrote out a contract covering everything he would need to get started and how long it probably would take. This guy seemed like a straight shooter. He wanted to be covered as much as I did. Although this detail was definitely reflected in his quote, I knew exactly what I was paying for and felt the price was fair considering the project could be done within a month.

If you want to find contractors in your area, visit Real-Estate-Yogi.com for the best advice on home improvement and real estate. I was able to get some great help through a contact by calling 1-800-987-1397. Start your search today.

Monday 25 March 2013

How to Find a Great Building Contractor

I was searching for a contractor to help make some improvements on my home. I visited countless websites online, gathered some business cards I found at local hardware stores, and even wrote down some numbers I discovered on place mats at my favorite diner. Many of them had nice advertisements that seemed very tempting, but I really wanted to make sure I hired a professional. I was looking for someone with experience and the proper licenses and insurance policies, not some cheap hack off the street.


The plan was to make some major additions to my primary residence. This wasn't something I was capable of on my own, nor would it necessitate rudimentary carpenter skills. This was a big project. I was eventually successful because I was detail oriented and followed some basic steps during my search which I highly recommend to anyone who is trying to find a contractor.
  • Look for a company that is in a permanent location relatively close to you. This means they have some stability and will stand by the work they provide for you. They aren't going to run and hide.
  • Get a contractor with their own insurance plan. This is their workers compensation and liability insurance plans. If they have an accident on your property you don’t want it to affect your own homeowner’s insurance, which may not cover something like this.
  • Look for someone that has long history of experience in the industry. Being in business for a long time typically means a consistent service with a solid reputation.
  • By far the most important thing I did was get everything in writing. This helped my own sense of security and created a paper trail from the beginning of the project to its conclusion.
Three types of contractors

In your search to Find Contractors In Your Area you will discover that there are three types. There is the general building contractor that works mostly on building structures. These usually focus on home improvements like adding a new room to a house. There is the general engineering contractor that will have specific knowledge of how to manage projects such as excavation, leveling, and septic or sewer systems. Then there is the specialty contractor that does your various electrical projects, landscaping, as well as flooring and roofing. Since I needed a little of everything I hired a general contractor who then sub-contracted any jobs that required a special skill set.

Get it in writing!

Always remember that no matter what state you are in, a verbal agreement means nothing in a court of law. This is why writing everything out in contracts is so important when doing building projects. Things can go wrong, and time tables aren't always exact. It is better if you are covered in the event of a dispute. Imagine you find roofing contractors who tell you “We will be done with your roof in three days… guaranteed.” You know there is a storm coming at the end of the week, but you forgot to get them to sign that guarantee in writing. The roof doesn't get finished in the time they told you, your home is left partially exposed to the elements and things get ruined. However you are liable because you overlooked a given time frame in writing. Sit down with a contractor and go over everything in detail, making sure both sides know what is expected.

If you want help learning how to find a good contractor for home improvements visit Real-Estate-Yogi.com to get started. They have representatives available by phone seven days a week. Just call 1-800-987-1397 for a free consultation.