The first-time homeowners meet with the contractors, there is a big chance that they think of them as a competent and civilized contractor. That is why they hired them in the first place. But there are times that people seem like a doctor Jekyll at first, and then began to act more like Mister Hyde in the long run. 

It is best to spot the Mister Hyde-like behavior before they are hired. It is hard to get out of the deal when the homeowner already paid them for the job that most likely will be sub-standard or incomplete; gotten too far down the line with these contractors to make it too difficult to get out; or driven yourself with frustration and rage. 

Bad contractors can do anything from pocketing homeowner’s money and purchase sub-standard materials to using alcohol and drugs while on the job, endangering not only themselves, but also people around them and, most importantly, their families. How can homeowners know when it is time to replace them with a much better model?

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Contractors asking for too much money as a down payment

The first and the most apparent reason, contractors should not ask for a significant amount of money as an upfront payment. Yes, they need the cash to get the renovation started, but asking for a ridiculous amount of money (more than 15% of the total cost) raises a red flag. 

Most states in the United States allow contractors to ask their clients for a maximum of 33% of the total construction cost as an upfront payment or down payment. Contractors need to have enough credit to pay for the rest of the down payment. If they do not have enough credit, it might be because they messed up their previous project and their credit revoked by the bank. 

That is not the right contractor for the job. After the down payment costs, an additional budget needs to be tied to significant milestones like the end of foundation and excavation work, plumbing, framing, roofing, sliding, electricity, and finish work. Similarly, contractors who try to tie money on dates instead of construction milestones are going to bad news. Low biddings should also raise red flags. 

Be aware of the common scams in which builders assure the client that their house will be used as a sample unit for advertising purposes, and that is why they can bid lower compared to their competition. As a matter of fact, it is never worth it to lowball bids for the payoff of portfolio pieces. Instead, lowballing bids will always equal to poor quality of work. It is as simple as that.

Keeps Strange Hours

What does the site look like at 9 in the morning on a Monday or two in the afternoon on a Friday? If the answer is a quiet job site, the homeowner needs to reevaluate the builder that they are hiring. Let us put it …

Do you dream of having a lawn like the ones you see in home magazines or on TV? Probably, everyone does. However, regardless of your efforts and countless hours spent in mowing and weeding, your lawn isn’t even close to the one you were trying to achieve. 

As much as you hate giving up your hobby and aspiration to become a gardener, sometimes it’s better to just leave the job to professionals. There are plenty of lawn care companies, providing care and maintenance of your garden in the area where you live. For example, if you live in the south of Virginia, you can easily find this type of companies, such as Lenard’s Lawn Care Service of Virginia Beach. 

Some of these providers still use old-fashioned equipment while others use the latest tools. Anyway, you shouldn’t disregard the ones which don’t look modern to you.  Do a thorough check on each provider prior to hiring it, as the health and exterior look of your lawn will be in its hands. 

These tips will help you in finding the right one for you. 

Begin your search early 

When looking for a lawn care company, you should start looking for potential candidates a few months before you request their services, For instance, the best time to start your search would be in winter as the season of gardening services begins in early spring. It’s important to enter the companies’ schedules, so that they call you for an estimate when the time comes.

You can find candidates in various ways. If you like the garden of someone in your neighborhood, you can ask them to tell you more about its provider and the experience they had with it so far. You can actually, visually assess their work, by looking at the yard itself. That’s the most reliable proof you can get.  

In case you aren’t the type of person to ask your neighbors, friends or family for advice, there’s always the possibility to do an online research by reading reviews and visiting companies’ websites.

Schedule an estimate

After selecting couple of lawn care providers, the next step is to schedule an estimate to determine the cost of their services. This estimate is usually free, as it’s in the companies’ interest to persuade you to become their client. 

Ask them about the annual cost of hiring them as well as the cost per single service. The price will depend on the size of your garden, the required materials and labor and all the additional expenses such as gas or the time spent in travelling to get to your house. Visit this page to see what an accurate estimate should include.

Schedule several estimates in order to compare prices between competitors and find the one which fits your budget.

Inquire about their education, license and insurance

Although you believe that lawn care is nothing more than mowing, weeding and edging, it’s actually much more than that. There should be at least one agronomy expert …

Whether it is to store unusedfurniture, garden tools, firewood or to simply have a small annex house, cottages or garden shedsare available in several models. Rustic or contemporary, wood, metal or resin, with or without system floor, the choice is wide. Let’s have an overview of thoselittle huts installed at the bottom of the garden!

Choosing a Garden Shed according to Use

If you want a versatile garden shed that requires a minimum of maintenance, you are advised to select a PVC or a resin shelter. A simple cleaning with the garden hose is enough and it is certainly the wisest choice if you live in a rainy region. Its configurations make it the perfect multipurpose garden shed. Plus, you can order an easy to install kit delivered in a non cross linked polyethylene foam.

Do you have small budget to be allocated to this kind of project? Do you just want a placeto store material and the aesthetic side does not matter that much to you? Orient your choice to a metal garden shelter.  It is the most economical option on the market and you will only have to itafter several years. With an insufficient insulation, it is mainly chosen for storage.

If you want something noble and elegant, a wood garden shed is the best choice. You just need to know that it needs specific maintenance.For that, you can use stain or wood paint for more convenience. Since wood is a natural insulator, it is the best material for a garden hut for children, an artist’s studio or a summer guest room.

Other Important Characteristics your Garden Shed Should Have

There are some parameters that your hut should have, regardless of the chosen material. First of all, the presence of a floor is mandatory to avoid moisture and benefit from more comfort. It is also preferable to have a window and a glass door to tinker and/or to store in the light of day. Measure the floor area and ridge height by taking into account your needs. Everything must obviously pass through the doorway. Floor anchoring and concrete slab are the must.

Which Style of Garden Shed to Choose?

Different styles of garden sheds and chalets are available. The majority of garden sheds are made of wood or steel with one or two doors and a two-sided roof. Their use is essentially geared towards storage. However, garden sheds come in more different styles:

• rustic like a Norwegian-type chalet;
• traditional style made of raw wood;
• contemporary style with a flat roof;
• authentic cottagewith an artisanal look;

Some styles and designs allow you to match the garden shed with your home. However, keep in mind that the style often depends on the used material and most variations of garden sheds are made of wood.…