Before
buying a new house ask. . .
- who built it?
- did the contractor have a license
issued by the state?You can usually find the answers
at your local city hall which can also tell you if complaints
have been filed against the contractor.
- who else has bought houses built by
the contractor? Call them to find out if they were satisfied
with his/her work.
- did the contractor fix problems quickly?
- if the contractor had problems getting
his/her work approved by the city Inspections Department.
- if there are problems with the house?
Get a written agreement from the contractor about when
he/she will make repairs.
- if the contractor
will give you a warranty on the house and what it covers?
When negotiating a contract,
ask a lawyer to look it over before you sign anything.
Before buying an older house ask. . .
- for a thorough inspection of the house
by a company of your choice. Also ask the city to do
an inspection for violations of the minimum housing
code
- the city Inspections Dept. to see
their records about the house
- the seller for records of major improvements
such as a new furnace or waterproofing. Also ask for
the names of the people who did the work and find out
if it is still under warranty
- the seller to put in writing any repairs
he/she has agreed to make and when those repairs will
be done.
When
negotiating a contract, ask a lawyer to look it over before
you sign anything.
Before having home improvements
made. . .
- get written bids from three state-licensed
contractors. Give the contractors a description of the
work you want them to do and when you want it finished.
- choose a contractor who will give
you references. Call the references and make sure they
were satisfied with the contractor's work.
- sign a contract which describes: the
work to be done, when the work will be completed, and
how much the work will cost—either a total or
the rate you will be charged. On the contract, fill
in all the blanks or write in "Not Applicable."
You may want to ask a lawyer to review the contract
before you sign it.
- be sure that the contractor gets any
building permits required for the job.
- be sure that the contractor understands
that you will only pay for work which has been done
or materials which have been delivered. Get receipts
for the materials that the contractor uses for your
home improvements.
When
someone calls you or knocks on your door wanting to make
repairs. . .
- be sure the repairs are really needed.
- ask for references and check
them. Ask if the work was satisfactory.
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