BLOG: Tips to Hire the Right Person for a Home Repair or Remodel

Does your home need a minor repair or even a major renovation?  Horror stories involving unfinished work and shoddy workmanship are common from homeowners who worked with unlicensed handman types.  While sometimes the price quoted by unlicensed workers may seem attractive, in the big picture you can often end up spending a lot more than you would have with a legally licensed, state governed contractor!

Whether you are considering hiring a painter, landscaper or any other type of of construction contractor, here are some tips that could save you a lot of frustration, stress and money:

1. It is illegal to ask for or accept more than a 10% deposit of the total home improvement contract price-or $1000, whichever is less.
2. You should never pay for work before it is completed, or pay for materials before they are delivered to the property
3. Make sure the written contract contains a progress payment schedule that outlines the project phases, with all costs and estimated completion dates.

You can get more tips on hiring a contractor on the Contractors State License Board website: cslb.cal.gov.

Contact me for a free, informative chart "Home Improvement Payback-Is It Worth It?"  newmanrealty@live.com or call me at: 949.233.9311

Leonard Newman is the Broker/Owner of Newman Realty, located across from the Mission in downtown San Juan Capistrano (next to Starbucks)