Before you hire a contractor!.

Knowing When to Hire a Contractor

We'd all like to think that a home improvement project is something we can handle on our own. But every year, thousands of us spend extra money - repairing the damage done - when we try to tackle something by ourselves. Here are a few questions you should answer, before you try to replace the kitchen sink or that water tap!

Have you ever done a project like this before?
Close your eyes and think through each part of the project step-by-step. If you don't know what you will do after the old appliance is disassembled, or you don't know how you're going to get the old wiring off the walls, you are probably not experienced enough to do it on your own.

Do you know anyone who can help you?
Check around with your friends/neighbors to see if anyone has done a similar project on his/her own, and then see, if they can help you out! You'll get to learn something hands-on, and it will save you a lot of cash.

Do you know whom to call, if something goes wrong?
When undertaking a serious home repairing/improvement project, you should always start by having emergency numbers nearby e.g. a plumber, an electrician, etc. There's a lot of damage that can be done in a home, and you don't want to deal with the aftermath!

Is the project safe?
If there's a chance that you're going to do structural damage to your home or yourself; you should hire a contractor. It will be a small price to pay; compared to what you would shell out to repair the damages done afterwards!

Of course, these warnings don't mean that you should never start a home repairing project by yourself! Take some initiative, and you can tackle lots of tasks in your home. Don't be afraid to ask for help at the hardware store as well! Check them out for ideas, tips and further guidance.

Precautions to take while hiring a contractor

Anyone can have problems, while having repairs or improvements done at home, but you can take following precautions, when hiring a contractor:

• Know exactly what you want. If you don't know, you may not like what you get. If you change your mind or the job - halfway through - the contract and price will change (and may go up!). So, know what you want to be done!
• Get it all in writing. After all, you don't want to hear, "I didn't say, I would include the sewer lines."
• Put deadlines in the contract, if you want it finished this season!!
• Have penalties (a motivational clause though!!). This can be important for larger jobs. If the contract says "Work to be completed by 30th January," then add, "Rs. 500 per day to be deducted from the contract price, for each day the job is unfinished beyond 30th January."
• Never pay too much up front. A small advance might be reasonable, when the contract is signed or some money for materials, prior to the start date. Simply put, never pay in full, before the job is finished.
• Don't hire the very first contractor you encounter. Ask your friends or owner of a hardware store. Go for a recommendation, based on similar jobs to yours.
• Don't hire an unlicensed contractor. Although, a license doesn't mean you get expertise, but it does mean that you get leverage. Hiring unlicensed one can be fine, only if you know, what you're doing!
• Don't expect too much neatness at site, from the contractor. But, be clear in the contract that the jobsite will be cleaned up at the end of the job.
• Don't think contracts prevent problems. Find someone reasonable that you can work with, and keep your eyes open too!!