{"id":369395,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:24","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/realestate\/owning-a-home\/home-improvement-contractors.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T20:26:15","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T01:26:15","slug":"home-improvement-contractors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/owning-a-home\/home-improvement-contractors.html","title":{"rendered":"Home Improvement and Contractors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Home Improvement and Contractors<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last reviewed\n

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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Welcome to the Contractors and Home Improvement section of FindLaw’s Real Estate Center. Most homeowners need to hire a contractor at some point. Sometimes homeowners want to redo their kitchen, add another bedroom, or repair a water-damaged floor. Whatever your reason for calling a contractor, you should be aware of the various legal issues involved. For instance, contractors should be licensed and bonded; and rates for jobs may vary quite a bit from one contractor to the next. This section will introduce you to the various legal issues surrounding contractors so that you can begin that next big home improvement project as a well-informed consumer.<\/p>\n

Finding the Right Contractor<\/h2>\n

When you search for a contractor, you want to make sure they have the right mix of experience, skill level, and professionalism. You also want to ensure that you don’t get ripped off, which can be difficult when you don’t know exactly what a particular job is worth. One of the best ways to find a quality contractor is through word-of-mouth, whether it’s from neighbors and friends or online review sites. Online research can also help you determine the typical price range for your job (which can vary quite a bit from one region to another).<\/p>\n

Once you’ve narrowed down your search, you may want to ask the contractor(s) a few questions, including the following:<\/p>\n