Comments for Home Renovation - Renovating your home for profit and pleasure

Comment on Where can I learn the basics of home repair/renovation HANDS ON – like tiling, etc? by Katie143

Katie143 — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:47:05 +0000

Home Depot does offer classes. Check with the local store to see what classes they have coming up. I am sure that they wouldn’t be able to show really hard tasks in their classes because it would be too time consuming and hard for the average person so most would probably be easy.

Comment on Where can I learn the basics of home repair/renovation HANDS ON – like tiling, etc? by Lisa J

Lisa J — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:25:35 +0000

Yes they do have workshops. Whether its what your looking for in particular or not I don’t know. You can check their sites for upcoming workshops. Try sites like DIY or HGTV. You can also check your local library for books on the subject.

Comment on Best way to hire home renovation people? by Dan

Dan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:14:43 +0000

Hire a licensed contractor! If you don’t, you may have no recourse if things go badly. Check your not-so-friendly-home-improvement box store for a bulletin board that will have names of folks that will do what you want. Get a list of references from them and MAKE THE CALLS. Legit contractors won’t hesitate. Check with your state’s contractor’s licensing board. The site will tell you if the guy has had any problems. Make sure you have a contract and DONT PAY THE ENTIRE AMOUNT until youre satisfied. Look, there are plenty of great handyman type folks that do superb work out there (ask that painter for referrals). There are plenty of licensed contractors that aren’t worth taking out and beating with a stick. Like the guy said, its your money and you need to do the things that will get you the most for it. Do your homework. Lowest cost isn’t always a good thing.

Comment on Best way to hire home renovation people? by chacha777

chacha777 — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:55:55 +0000

Without asking for references and not ever seeing their work before, you’re not going to know until they actually do the job. If you want to hire someone, call around, ask questions, ask for references, etc. You get what you pay for.

Comment on What does the law say about running a home improvement company without a contractors license? by constructioncommando

constructioncommando — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 23:44:41 +0000

Contractor license requirements vary from state to state. Some don’t require it, some require for jobs over a certain $ amount.

I wouldn’t be too confident in that liability insurance if you are doing work for which a license is required. I would imagine your policy has an exclusion for “illegal acts” which would be any job you did over your state’s $ licensing threshold.

Also, if you get caught contracting without a license, it could jeopardize your ability to get your contractors license.

Contact your state Contractors Board/Registrar/etc. to find out what the requirements are in your state – and then take care of business. Whatever money you “save” by not getting a license and posting a bond is really not worth the risk. In CA, unlicensed contractors face fines, jail, and civil judgments – the law states that homeowners don’t have to pay them AT ALL if they are doing work that requires a license. It’s just not worth it.

A link to California’s information is below.

Comment on Where can I learn the basics of home repair/renovation HANDS ON – like tiling, etc? by Mommy Dearest

Mommy Dearest — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:48:25 +0000

Home Depot and Lowe’s both have workshops. You just need to go down to your local store and sign up!

Comment on Where can I learn the basics of home repair/renovation HANDS ON – like tiling, etc? by donna d

donna d — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 13:10:43 +0000

go to hgtv.com and find out there how far you can go they have alot of workshops on there.

Comment on What does the law say about running a home improvement company without a contractors license? by billg_123

billg_123 — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:21:23 +0000

It depends on the state and city that you live in.
Here in the state of ct. if you get caught contracting without a licence. You go to Jail and you do not pass go and collect $200.00

This is to protect both you and the consumer.

Comment on What does the law say about running a home improvement company without a contractors license? by Brian G

Brian G — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:28:41 +0000

The laws vary by state, but there is usually a limit on the amount of money you can earn on one job before you are required to have the contractor’s license. You would have to check your state’s rules for further details.

Comment on Where can I learn the basics of home repair/renovation HANDS ON – like tiling, etc? by daydreambeliever0000

daydreambeliever0000 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:34:47 +0000

Home Depot does have workshops I believe Lowe’s does too. Painting is easy (I’m a painter) lots are very easy depending if you know how to use the tools that go with the trade.