Home Improvement Tips:

How to find a qualified contractor to work on your next home improvement project ... so you DON'T get "ripped off"!

Owning a house is one of the best investments you will ever make. But no house is perfect, and the time will come when you want to add to your home's value - and enjoyment!

When it comes time to move, you'll probably want to do as much "cosmetic" work as possible before you move in - things like cleaning, painting, fixing small things that are broken. Because it is much easier to these things when the house is empty.

If you are buying an older house, just be prepared for things to break - plumbing, electric, appliances, roofing, etc. And to find out that previous improvements might not have been done to your standards. Hopefully, you'll have enough money in reserve to do this work as needed. And this can happen even with newer homes, too, so don't be surprised.

Then the time will come when you want to make some nice improvements or do a big remodeling job. This is the fun part of owning a home! Expensive, but fun.

The key is to find a good contractor to do the work...

Someone who will charge a fair price...someone who will show up on time...someone who will do quality work...and someone who is licensed and insured.

When it comes to finding this "good" contractor - well, if you've ever done any home improvements you know just how difficult this can be! Many don't return your phone calls, don't show up for appointments, give you outrageously expensive estimates (a home equity loan is often a good way to finance a big project), show up when they want to (and disappear for days at a time).

If you have a friend or neighbor who had some work done around the house, and they liked how the contractor did the work, that's a great place to start. If not, do a search online for "plumbers in your town USA" or something similar and check out the reviews. If you are not sure how to find the right help, try this service. Here are some of the many service professionals available to you:

Additions & Remodels Architects & Engineers Cabinets & Countertops Carpentry Concrete, Brick & Stone Decorators & Designers Decks & Porches Driveways, Patios, Walks & Steps Drywall & Insulation Electrical & Telephone Fences Flooring

Garages, Doors, Openers Handyman Services Heating & Cooling Landscaping & Lawncare Painting & Staining Plumbing, Roofing, Gutters Siding Swimming Pools, Spas & Saunas Tile & Stone Walls & Ceilings Windows & Doors

So, how do you find a qualified home improvement contractor?

Shop around and compare! You can find general contractors and plumbers at YP.com online. (Or you can do it yourself and try to save some money). Or get a FREE home improvement quote for just about any type of project around your house:

Do It Yourself Home Improvement, Repair, Remodeling and Hardware Store from DoItYourself.com
Do-it-yourself home improvement tips

FREE one-stop resource for expert help with home improvement, remodeling houses, & home repair from HomeTips.com:
Free expert advice for your home

Home Improvement and Remodeling Tips from ThisOldHouse.com:
Your source for expert advice on home improvement, remodeling & decorating ideas

Home Improvement, Remodeling and Repair Help from Hometime.com:
Do-it-yourself project help

Tips for simple home improvement tasks that can help you save money:
Home Improvement Resources

For more on repairs for common problems with household appliances, check out this appliance repair infographic:

Source: PartSelect Appliance Parts

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