June is National Homeownership Month, a time for Americans to reflect on the value of their homes and the role they play in their lives.
With a median asking price of $225,500, becoming a homeowner requires commitment, patience, and careful planning.
Closing the contract on a first-time home purchase is a time of joy and thankfulness for many first-time homeowners. While moving furniture and finalising paperwork may appear to be the most significant roadblock to enjoying their new home, it doesn’t take long for them to identify their first large home repair job.
Consumers make one of the greatest and most significant purchases of their lives when they buy a home. To preserve their investment, homeowners must be cautious when hiring contractors for home remodelling tasks. To help you contract with confidence, use these BBB tips for both new and seasoned homeowners:
Get three quotes at the very least. Before making a final decision, the Better Business Bureau highly advises homeowners seeking services to get at least three quotations from different companies.
Receiving numerous quotations provides homeowners with a thorough grasp of pricing and services, allowing them to have an informed discussion about the project’s cost with their chosen contractor. Always visit BBB.org to discover reputable contractors.
Never pay for the entire project upfront. Even if the contractor offers a considerable discount for paying the entire project cost up front, BBB always advises splitting payments over the project’s duration.
Payments are staggered to allow the homeowner to view the work at specific milestones, ensuring that it is done to their satisfaction before the next instalment is released.
Contractors who use aggressive tactics or insist on getting full payment before starting a job should be avoided, and most deposits should be between 10 and 30 per cent of the overall project cost.
Due to the cost of supplies or other clearly mentioned difficulties, certain contractors may request a larger down payment.
Recognize the licence requirements. State or municipal regulatory bodies may need varying licensure depending on the sort of service a homeowner wants to be done.
Spend the time to double-check the licence is valid with the appropriate agency in industries that normally require licences (electricians, HVAC, plumbers, pesticide applicators, and so on).
The contractor should be open and honest about how the homeowner can check to see if the licence is active. Keep in mind that if an unlicensed contractor performs work that violates building rules or causes property damage, the homeowner may be held accountable.
Deals that seem too good to be true should be avoided. Any deal that sounds too good to be true should be rigorously evaluated, as is customary in any marketplace transaction. Have faith in your instincts.
Scammers and con artists frequently use substantial discounts on goods and services for a “limited period” to entice consumers to make snap judgments before checking the genuineness of the company or individual.
Read more:-
- Opinion | I’m fed up with politics in the United States
- Was a $1,500 tax refund realistic for 18 per cent of Americans?
- DEADLINE FOR TAXES Americans have only HOURS to escape paying up to $435 in fines to the IRS — find out whether you’re one of them.
BBB.org/HomeHQ, BBB’s online resource centre for homeowners to understand the various facets of house ownership and renovation or repair tasks, has more information. Report any scams you come across to BBB.org/ScamTracker, whether you’ve lost money or not.
