Before you sign a home improvement contract, take 2 steps: 1) Learn as much as you can about the contractor; and 2) Examine the contract carefully, and show it to a lawyer.

Many states have licensing requirements for contractors. Call the state agency involved to make certain the contractor is licensed and in good standing, without any action having been taken against the license. Get the names of people the contractor has worked for in your area, and call them. Ask if you can see the work on their houses. Check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints. Get competing bids, and if this contractor’s bid is much lower, ask the other bidders why their bids are higher. Make sure the bid you choose covers the same materials and work as the competing bids.

The more detailed the contract the better. The materials to be used and the work to be done should be spelled out, with product manufacturers and model numbers if possible. Get a start date and a completion date in the contract if you can. Make sure that appropriate permits required in your area are taken out, since review of the job by local inspectors will help protect you. 

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