Tips for Homeowners When it comes to Remodel/Construction in your Home

11/14/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Metrocrest for your reconstruction needs (972) 233-8400.

1. Have a Clear Budget

One of the most important things is ensuring that you aren’t over-spending. It’s very easy to get carried away and fill your home with everything you want. The cabinets, flooring, and lights can always be upgraded later. Make sure you have a clear amount that you are okay with spending.

2. Pick a Good Contractor

Not every contractor is equal. It’s important to make sure your builder is reputable.

3. Keep Everything in Writing

Your interpretation of what you want and your contractor’s interpretation of what you want may vary. Write everything down and go over everything with your builders. This ensures that your expectations and wants are very clear.

4. Don’t Make Unnecessary Changes

During the idea and planning stage, something may seem better on paper than in real life. Not everything is going to look the way you anticipated. If it’s something that you can see yourself getting used to, there’s no need to make a change. If it’s completely unbearable, you should make the change. However, remember that making changes will cause a delay and add to your costs.

5. Keep Your Relationship Professional

It’s important that your relationship with your contractor remains professional. It may be a little too awkward to hire someone like your brother or uncle to build your house.

6. Be Involved

When you hire your contractor, don’t just let them go on without any guidance or supervision. It is important that you are involved in the process. You don’t want to show up on the last day of building and notice a ton of things that could have been fixed previously.

7. Prepare for Delays

No matter what your contractor says, the timetable for rebuilding varies. Don’t let your expectations get too concrete. it’s important to be flexible.

8. Be Understanding

It’s important to make sure that you aren’t being too demanding of your builders. You may come to find that one of your ideas or plans will not come to fruition. Don’t get upset and let it go

9. Have Temporary Housing

As mentioned previously, you want to be prepared for delays. If the building process goes on longer than anticipated, it’s important that you have a place to stay.

SERVPRO of Metrocrest is here to help with all your reconstruction needs. Call us today at (972) 233-8400.

How to Hire a Really Great Handyman

4/12/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Metrocrest understands the need for a good handyman.  Whether it's work in the Dallas, TX area related to a water damage, fire damage, flooding, or something else, a good handyman is essential to a successful project.

https://www.thumbtack.com/blog/handyman/

You need help—and not just metaphorically speaking. You need trim painted, fence repairs, new tile grout, and someone to assemble the freaking guest room furniture. Enter the handyman. You know, the person that gets your projects done. But how to find the rightperson? Never fear. We made you a handy guide to hiring the perfect handyman. You can even use it verbatim like a script, if you like.

What’s your work experience as it relates to ______ ?

If you want to stain cabinet doors, hang new floor-to-ceiling curtains, and fix a leaky bathtub, make sure the person has the chops to pull it off. If you have different projects that require detailed levels of expertise, you may need to divide and conquer. Consider hiring one person who has a background in roofing and one who is a whiz with electrical outlets. If you need building permits or heavy machinery, you may need a contractor. Regardless of who you choose, always confirm they have (successfully) done similar work in the past.

Do you have references?

Feel free to skip this one if they have ample online reviews that bode well for the health of your home repairs. If you receive references, be sure to call them!

What are your fees?

Don’t be shy about talking money. Do they offer free estimates? Do they charge by the hour, or by the project? Budget surprises are rarely the fun party hat kind of surprise you know and love.

What’s the estimated time needed for the job and what’s your availability?

If this is a side job for your potential handyman, don’t hire them for a 25 hour project if they can only dedicate 10 hours a week. Or do hire them, knowing you will have halfway removed wallpaper in your hallway for 2.5 weeks.

Will you send me a contract?

Handyman work is, by nature, more casual than hiring out a contractor or construction company. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be clear about the work that will be done. Request a detailed write-up or email of the projects to be done, an outline and cost estimate of materials you will pay for, estimated timeline for the project, and estimated total cost. It’s a five minute step that will save you a world of frustration.

What are the terms of payment?

Don’t pay 100 percent up front. You already knew that—being the smarty pants you are—but as a friendly reminder we’ll put it in the script. Many people require a partial deposit to start—which is completely legitimate—but be leery of anyone who wants full payment up front.

A tip from the pros: Ask your prospective handyman if they have a guarantee on their work. For example, if you paid them to rehang your cabinet doors and a month later the hinges start to crack, will they be accountable and fix them free of charge? Make sure it’s in the contract, and then you have leverage!

Keep Outside Firewood Dry to Stop Termites

11/4/2015 (Permalink)

Damp Wood - A haven for termites

Keep outdoor firewood dry, away from water, to avoid termites that can wreak havoc on the structural wood of a home.

Dampwood termites typically are found in the western states, from Washington to Montana and down through California and Texas. They also can be found from central to southern Florida.

These termites most often are found in damp wood, such as logs, stumps and other decaying wood. Most dampwood termites do not require soil contact.