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For
some things, you are going to need contractors no matter how
handy you are. You will want to limit the amount you have
contractors do, if not for the amount it costs extra, the
amount of time you can lose if they don't show up. There are
times when it might be more advantageous to hire a contractor
if they can get it done sooner than you could on your own. Have
to remember time is money.
We
always used a contractor for taping & finishing drywall. It
is something we were never real good at. Professional drywall
tapers are so fast, it never made any sense to do it ourselves.
There are usually limits on what local codes will let you do if
the house is not your residence. Concrete, Plumbing,
Electrical, Roofing, and Heating and Air Conditioning all have
different requirements of who can do what where. Some cities
you may be able to do all of it yourself legally, others you
may have to have license bonded contractors for all of it.
Plumbing is one that is very limited in many places on how much
you can do if you are not a licensed plumber.
Be
very careful how much you depend on contractors keep you on
your planned time line. To some contractors, showing up 2 to 3
weeks after they say they are going to be there is standard
operating procedure. Many contractors are effected by the
weather. Roofers can't roof in the rain. A rainy spell puts
them behind on all of their jobs and makes their phone ring
with people looking for new roofs and repairs. Heat waves and
cold spells puts HVAC contractors behind on their schedules as
they get busy with service work.
With
whatever contractors you use, develop good business
relationships with them and they will be more apt to help you
in the future when you need it. Pay them on time, but I don't
recommend paying in full until the job is done, and inspected
if applicable. Touch base with them the week before and day
before they are supposed to start to make sure everything is
on. If something is going to hold them up, let them know ahead
of time. Communication goes a long way. Also ask them if you
can help them while they do their work to expedite things and
cut costs. This also gives you a chance to learn how to do
those things yourself.
If
you use contractors for things that materials are readily
available for see if you can get them to do it for a labor only
price and buy the materials yourself. Most contractors mark up
the material end of it as well as the labor. This also gives
you a chance to watch for closeout lots of materials where you
can save even more. If you do this, you can roll leftover
materials into your next house or return them instead of
supplying the contractors next side job.
When
choosing contractors don't just flip through the yellow pages
and start dialing, unless you plan on getting a lot of bids and
interviewing lots of fast talking salesmen. If you don't know
any contractors in that area ask around. Local barber shops,
churches and restaurants are usually a good source for local
information. You want a fair, reputable and reliable
contractor, but you don't want to pay a fortune. Look for years
in business. Don't be afraid to ask questions that might
normally be uncomfortable things to ask. Things like, Have you
ever been sued?, Is your insurance up to date? Are your
employees on time?, Do they drink on the job?, Is this a job
you are comfortable doing? etc...
Contractors
are a valuable tool in getting a house renovated for resale,
but choose them wisely. If there is something you can do
yourself and do fast, do it, otherwise get a professional
contractor. When you find good ones, keep them and coordinate
with them to get your project done. Learn everything you can
learn from them, caus e maybe the next house you will be able
to do that work yourself.
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