Remodeling? Hire Local Contractors

Saw a great article today in the Legacy Ridge newsletter about hiring local contractors for your remodeling needs so we are going to pass it along.

The article makes great points about why it’s beneficial to hire local and it offers tips on what to look for in a contractor.

So without further ado, I bring you Remodeling? Hire Local Contractors (clink link to see the original article) as provided by ARAnet, Inc.

Remodeling? Hire Local Contractors

(ARA) – We’re hearing a lot these days about buying local and for good reason: it’s better for the environment and it’s a direct way to support local businesses. A similar justification can be applied when it comes time to hire a remodeling contractor. It’s often quicker and easier to work with a local professional.

But those aren’t the only reasons why you should hire a local remodeler. Home remodeling projects can take a considerable amount of time, money and patience. Under these conditions, it is important that you feel a certain level of trust with the remodeling contractor you have selected. After all, you’ll be seeing a lot of and working with each other often over the course of your project.

The benefits of using a local remodeling contractor work both ways. It can be easier for you to verify a local remodeling contractor’s credentials than to check the qualifications of a large company with offices far removed from your neighborhood. If a local contractor has been in business for a few years, he’ll already have a local reputation.

Similarly, a local remodeler has more vested in your project than just seeing it completed. If the contractor’s work meets or exceeds your expectations you can become a positive referral, resulting in even more local business for the contractor. Local home improvement contractors often live in the same community as the homes they remodel and can’t afford to disappoint their neighbors. Plus, they pay taxes and have a commercial interest in your community’s success.

Where to Find a Local Remodeler

A national poll found that the number of people who said they get good ideas and information from word of mouth increased by 25 percentage points. Obviously, we listen to our neighbors and care about what they have to say. More importantly, if they’ve hired a remodeler, we can watch that remodeler in action, stop by and talk to the remodeler, then make our own judgments.

But what if you don’t know of a home improvement contractor in your neighborhood? The Internet has become a virtual word of mouth agent and a valuable source for information on about just about everything, including local remodeling contractors. Online contractor referral services, such as ReliableRemodeler.com, are designed to match your project to up to four quality, local remodeling contractors. These services are free and typically provide you with more than one free estimate from local remodeling contractors.

What to Look for in a Local Remodeler

When choosing a local home remodeler, remember to evaluate multiple contractors before making your decision. It’s important to put your request in writing. Make sure each contractor is aware of your project goals and your estimated budget before they submit a bid.

Contractors are bound by their local and state regulations. Check to see if the contractor you are thinking of choosing is registered with the government and has a current business license. The contractor should be bonded and carry general liability insurance as well. It is permissible for you to ask for copies of any certificates or licenses, as well as for information on local remodeling projects of a similar nature the contractor has completed.

A legitimate local remodeling contractor will provide credentials and references. They shouldn’t try high-pressure sales techniques, such as offering you a special price for today only, or tell you they only accept cash. They should provide a written contract and take care of the necessary building permits.

Once you’ve selected a local remodeling contractor, you’ll need to work closely with the contractor to ensure the project stays true to your budget and your expectations.

When your project is done, you will have the dual satisfaction of owning a house that is not only more valuable and more beautiful, but that was completed by the talents of a quality, local remodeler. Good neighbors not only make good fences, they make good investments.

To find the right local remodeler for your project or to learn more about remodeling, check out www.reliableremodeler.com.

Copyright 2008, ARAnet, Inc.

ARAnet. “Remodeling? Hire Local Contractors.” Today’s Life Solutions: Legacy Ridge News. 2008. Weblog. Web. Accessed 26 Jan. 2015.

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Grease: Your Drain’s Worst Enemy

Thanksgiving is around the corner, which offers us this week’s blog topic: grease in your drains. It’s important that you remember after that big meal full of sleep inducing turkey, not to pour grease and food scraps down your drain. Most people are under the impression that you can put some food in your garbage disposal, I mean, that’s why it’s there right? Wrong! Even though your garbage disposal may be able to handle small, non-fibrous food scraps, your drains are not designed to. Food waste, grease, and debris builds up in your drain pipes and causes blockages.

The best way to avoid this problem is to ALWAYS brush all of your food scraps into the garbage before you wash your dishes. This will ensure you keep your drains clear and clog free and your garbage disposal free of performance reducing grease. In order to properly dispose of grease and oils, especially if using a turkey fryer, follow these steps:

• Once cooled, pour cooking oil and grease into a non-recyclable container; add kitty litter or coffee grounds, seal the container, and place in the trash.
• Scrape food scraps from dishes into trash. Minimize the use of your garbage disposal because even cooked foods contain oil and grease that can clog sewer lines.
• Remove oil and grease from dishes, pots, and pans with a paper towel or napkin.
• Pre-wash dishes, pans, and pots with cold water before putting them in the dish washer. Hot water does not remove oil or grease but rather liquifies them. Once they cool they return to solids and can clog the sewer lines.

For additional information about how to care for your drains in a safe, natural way, please take a look at this article from our friends at Networx.com:

http://www.networx.com/article/care-for-your-drain-the-natural-way

Hope you enjoyed the blog. If you have any questions or comment please leave them in the comment section below or call us at 303-898-0851. Remember to follow us on Facebook and Google+.

The Proof is in the Plumbing!

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Getting New Counters? Think Plumbing!

If you’re thinking about have new counters installed, make sure you talk with you plumber first!

What many people don’t know, and what many counter installers won’t/can’t tell you, is that if you have new counters installed in your kitchen or bathroom, you may need to adjust your plumbing. The plumbing under your sink is set to a certain elevation, and because of the Uniform Plumbing Code, must maintain specific standards. If the counters you are installing are thicker, or are going to be set higher or lower, it could mean you need to drastically alter the existing drain pipes. Also, You must make sure the the counters are drilled to the same measurements of your current sink basin. If this step is overlooked than the counters you receive may cause you to have to buy an entirely new sink, whether you wanted one or not.

The reason many counter installers won’t tell you all of this information is because they may not know. They are not plumbers, so we shouldn’t expect them to know all the rules of plumbing. However, they should know to tell you to contact a plumber to make sure the counters you are installing will match your current set-up. You’re likely going to need your plumber afterwards to set all of you kitchen/bathroom fixtures and pipes back up afterwards, so you might as well include them from the get go and make your life a little easier. It sure spares the headache of making adjustments after the counters are already in place.

Thanks for reading along. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future blog posts please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. Remember, with McAdams Plumbing, The Proof is in the Plumbing!

-MP

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