BBB shares 10 tips for home improvement projects | News

Before you pick up a hammer for your home improvement project or hire a contractor for the job, the Better Business Bureau says there are 10 things you need to know before getting started.

“One’s going to be check out the company. Check out the company. Do your research. Check them out with BBB and then once you have done your research, then pick at least three contractors to get bids from. You want a variety of estimates so that way you’re not just getting the best price, but getting the best contractor,” said Amie Mitchell, CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Oklahoma.

That’s number one and two.

One, do your research. Two, get at least three bids.

Then number three, consider more than the price tag, the person’s reputation and materials.

Number four, check licenses, insurance and permits. Do you need one if you’re doing the work yourself, or does the contractor you’re hiring need a permit before starting the work?

Adding to the list are mistakes people make for larger projects, things you’ll want to avoid, like number 5, not hiring a designer or architect.

And six, not hiring a professional and instead relying on friends or family. There’s not much you can do if they mess up the work.

If you do hire a professional, the BBB says don’t make mistake number seven, not having a signed contract.

“We want consumers to know that when they sign the contract, they should have reviewed all of the things within that contract, the terms, the start date, the end date, the cleanup process. Do not sign a contract with a contractor that doesn’t have all of these elements in it. What is your recourse? Should you have a problem with the company? Make sure that contract is detailed out and has everything that you need,” said Mitchell.

Number eight, avoid contractors who only accept cash and don’t offer receipts. That means there’s no paper trail or documents you may need for tax purposes or any disputes.

The BBB recommends you pay by credit card.

“I would recommend using a credit card if at all possible, especially for the down payment of the project. You want to make sure that that initial deposit you’re not getting scammed. So be on the lookout for unusually large deposits for jobs. It should be about a third of the total project. That’s upfront.”

Number nine, avoid someone who is not communicating well. If they don’t respond to your messages or provide the answers you’ve asked about the project at the beginning, the BBB says you’ll likely have trouble throughout the work.

Number 10, you’ll also want to avoid not having an emergency budget. Make sure you have money saved up beyond what you think the project is going to cost in case there are surprises that pop up like asbestos removal or installing a load-bearing steel beam.

You want to make sure everything is done right and your home is safe.