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Ten Tips for Homeowners

• Write, in detail, the job you want or need done.
• Get informed. Do you need a permit?
• Research contractors in your area. Ask your friends and neighbours for names.
• Get a list of qualified professionals from your local Home Builders' Association or Better Business Bureau.
• Get estimates from at least three different contractors and ask them for customer references.
• Call the references from the contractors you like. Be sure to make a list of questions you want to ask them.
• Hire a professional contractor. Ask for written contracts and proof of Worker's Compensation or private liability insurance for injury or damages to your home.
• Agree on the work you want done, the budget and the timeline.
• Don't accept offers for cash deals without a receipt. Paying under the table is no deal – it can leave you with no warranty, no recourse for poor workmanship and no liability insurance if an injury takes place on your property.
• Get it in Writing! If you pay under the table for repairs, construction or home renovation, you are participating in the underground economy – and you're paying more than you think.

Find out more at www.hiringacontractor.com