SB Home Matters

Hiring CONTRACTORS for your Home

Inspiration abounds… on television, cable channels, and the internet. As we come out of months spent close to home during the COVID-19 crisis, it seems like everyone is thinking about changing, improving or least updating their domestic setting. Working from home, children learning from home, and families spending more time at home in general has helped us hone in on what we like and don’t like about our living spaces. Some folks are changing to new flooring, while some families are planning for home remodels. Still others are looking at building the home they now know they truly want.

No matter what level of modification being considered, property owners need to do due diligence in all aspects of home improvement projects, starting with clearly identifying the scope and budget for the project. Also valuable is an honest evaluation of do-it-yourself skills and whether property owners want to tackle the job themselves. No one wants the old adage about “not knowing what you don’t know” to come true after they have taken their primary bathroom out of working order.

Writing out what they want to accomplish and the amount of money budgeted helps to better communicate a project to building professionals. Any particulars that may affect

a project should be included. For instance, replacing current tiled floors with hardwood floors would identify that close to home during the COVID-19 crisis, it seems the old tile probably needs to come out before the new like everyone is thinking about changing, improving floor can go down. That will be a key element in calculating the labor and completion time – and thereby the cost

Working from home, children learning from home, – of the project. What should a home owner consider besides price when helped us hone in on what we like and don’t like about our hiring a building/remodeling professional? According to Dixey Robertson, Executive Officer of the Home Builders while some families are planning for home remodels. Still Association of Northwest Louisiana, hiring a licensed and insured contractor is almost always a property owner’s best option. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for ConNo matter what level of modification being considered, property owners need to do due diligence in all aspects of home improvement projects, starting with clearly identi tractors maintains a data base of currently licensed contractors who hold current general liability and workers compensation insurance, and an app is available at lslbc. louisiana.gov/mobile-app. “One of the big things that has arisen lately is that the super property owners want to tackle the job themselves. No ply chain has been interrupted,” says Tim Shane, Presione wants the old adage about “not knowing what you dent and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Northwest Louisiana. That creates a lot of unexpected circumstances like delays in supplies and missed deadlines, and some Writing out what they want to accomplish and the amount businesses are trying to unfairly use those circumstances to their advantage. Shane wants consumers to know that they can simply enter a person or company name into a

a project should be included. For instance, replacing current tiled floors with hardwood floors would identify that the old tile probably needs to come out before the new floor can go down. That will be a key element in calculating the labor and completion time – and thereby the cost – of the project. What should a home owner consider besides price when hiring a building/remodeling professional? According to Dixey Robertson, Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Northwest Louisiana, hiring a licensed and insured contractor is almost always a property owner’s best option. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors maintains a data base of currently licensed contractors who hold current general liability and workers compensation insurance, and an app is available at lslbc. louisiana.gov/mobile-app. “One of the big things that has arisen lately is that the supply chain has been interrupted,” says Tim Shane, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Northwest Louisiana. That creates a lot of unexpected circumstances like delays in supplies and missed deadlines, and some businesses are trying to unfairly use those circumstances to their advantage. Shane wants consumers to know that they can simply enter a person or company name into a

search engine, add their city and “BBB” to get the compa search engine, add their city and “BBB” to get the company’s rating, whether or not the company is accredited by the BBB. “There are a lot of companies that would prefer the BBB. “There are a lot of companies that would prefer not to have a BBB rating,” says Shane. Full details and a searchable database are available at bbb.org. Consumers should also be aware that just because con-Consumers should also be aware that just because con tractors say they are licensed and insured or have it written on their business cards does not guarantee it’s true. ten on their business cards does not guarantee it’s true. It also does not indicate the contractor’s quality of work. Robertson suggests asking for references and actually Robertson suggests asking for references and actually contacting the references for a report on the contractor’s contacting the references for a report on the contractor’s quality of work, work habits (like reasonable start/end of quality of work, work habits (like reasonable start/end of work day), and adherence to specified materials and draw schedules, etc. If the opportunity is available, property schedules, etc. If the opportunity is available, property owners should visit homes built or remodeled by their pro owners should visit homes built or remodeled by their prospective contractors. The state licensing board along with the National Association of State Contractors Licensing the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies has a helpful guide to hiring a licensed contractor Agencies has a helpful guide to hiring a licensed contractor for consumers. Available at lslbc.louisiana.gov/wp-con-for consumers. Available at lslbc.louisiana.gov/wp-con tent/uploads/brochure.pdf, the guide includes a list of tent/uploads/brochure.pdf, the guide includes a list of “Top 10 Tips When Hiring a Contractor” along with a list “Top 10 Tips When Hiring a Contractor” along with a list of contractor scams and warning signs to watch out for. Along with a rise in demand for new homes and home remodeling, the pandemic has created unique situations – in modeling, the pandemic has created unique situations – in particular, the delayed delivery or unavailability of building materials. Robertson cautions consumers to be aware ing materials. Robertson cautions consumers to be aware of clauses in written contracts that address price changes in materials. Although the clauses are standard, the cost of materials such as lumber have risen approximately 400% in the last 15 months, dramatically escalating building in the last 15 months, dramatically escalating building costs and forcing some property owners to postpone their costs and forcing some property owners to postpone their projects. Pricing has begun to stabilize during the latter projects. Pricing has begun to stabilize during the latter part of June 2021, but there are still significant delays in part of June 2021, but there are still significant delays in some item deliveries. Robertson’s best advice, “Make sure some item deliveries. Robertson’s best advice, “Make sure all of the materials are on hand before the contractor be all of the materials are on hand before the contractor begins work.” The late arrival of an HVAC unit, kitchen ap gins work.” The late arrival of an HVAC unit, kitchen appliance or even lumber can delay a project’s completion by weeks, if not more. As with any endeavor, good planning on the front side As with any endeavor, good planning on the front side helps ensure good results. Home building and remodeling helps ensure good results. Home building and remodeling are no exception.

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BAYOU STATE ROOFING is a locally owned and operated company that specializes in Residential and Commercial Roofing. For 8 years, they have served the Shreveport Bossier area, and most recently helped those in need of roofs and repairs in Lake Charles after Hurricane Laura. Bayou State is licensed and insured to specifically work on roofs, while many roofing companies and contractors do not have roofing on their liability insurance. Out of state roofers, builders, and contractors are not bound by the warranties of Louisiana. They are also not here to personally answer questions and help with your specific needs. They go back home and you’re left with their possible mistakes. Bayou State works with you from beginning to end and after the job. They aren’t done when the roof is up. They want to make sure you’re happy and safe in your home.

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