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property MaintenanceRemember....you get what you pay for! The only way we won't make money in these stocks is if the companies don't make it through this cycle," says Josh Spencer, homebuilding analyst with T. Rowe Price. "It's hard to think the housing market won't recover eventually and that homebuilding stocks won't get back to profitability. written by: Muskoka TradeSource Remember....you get what you pay for! In the last edition, we discussed the process of getting quotes on your project from potential contractors. This time we’re taking it one step further and looking at the importance checking the quality of your contractor – including appropriate insurance coverage, something that is extremely necessary for both the homeowner and those working on the site. Once you’ve narrowed your choices for a contractor down, your next step is to verify the quality of their work and to ensure that they work under proper insurance coverage and ethics. Laurie Campbell of Ed Campbell Construction Ltd. emphasizes the importance of doing some background research into your proposed contractor: “A gentleman’s handshake is no longer all that’s needed to secure a deal; it’s very important to verify the legitimacy and reputation of a company before signing anything.” So talk to friends, neighbours and acquaintances, ask a contractor to see their references, view some of their previous work to check quality, and make sure that the company is a reputable one. Free Classified Ads Canada's free, local classified site. Post your ads for free. Sell or exchange goods and services. www.alboa.ca Be aware, however, that just as you’re doing background work on your prospective contractor, they could be doing the same to you. Some contractors are now doing background checks on clients to verify their reputation when it comes to payment. “Attitudes about payment have changed,” says Campbell. “Both parties need to make sure that a payment schedule has been put into place. Have a discussion and agree on whether payments will be made in regular installments, or if invoices will be made once a month.” In addition, you need to make sure that the company / contractor you hire has all of the required insurance coverage. Says Les Bell, State Farm Insurance Agent, “Always verify that the contractor has the appropriate liability and disability insurance; otherwise, the homeowner is responsible for any damage, loss of hours, injury, etc.” Homeowners need to understand the importance of proper insurance coverage. If, for example, a contractor or one of his workers left some tools at the work site, and a child playing with or around the tools gets injured, one would expect the company to be held responsible. However, if the company isn’t properly insured, the onus is shifted and becomes the responsibility of the homeowner. We offer a wide range of services from wholesale modular sales & installation to a complete turn-key package for both residential or commercial projects. Financing programs are available to qualified buyers. With designers in both our office and at our manufacturer, your project is only limited by your imagination. Insurance coverage doesn’t stop with the contractor. All trades and subtrades hired on by the contractor must also have their own insurance. Not only does everyone involved in working on the project need appropriate coverage, but so does the property. Says Bell, “It’s a common misconception that people don’t insure property during construction. In fact, proper coverage should be in place even before excavation begins.” No matter what size the project is, whether it’s a minor repair, an addition, or the construction of an entire new structure, your insurance company should be aware of it. To find out what your responsibilities as a homeowner are, contact your insurance agent before any work is done and they will inform you of the appropriate coverage needed for the project. You don’t want to be held responsible for any injuries, loss of work time or loss of pay, especially if it’s something that can easily be avoided. “Only employ contractors with proper coverage and make sure you’ve got the necessary coverage on your property,” repeats Bell. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.The Builders London is the principal trade organisation for private sector housebuilders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. It is an exciting industry filled with many talented people and organisations, providing sustainable and attractive homes to meet the demands of consumers. Our member firms account for approximately 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national household names through regionally based businesses and small local companies. 1. Thai tensions data: 07.04.08 Wealth and power gap exposed in Bangkok court 2. Greece gripped by pensions strike data: 19.03.08 Greece's civil servants hold a general strike against pension reforms, paralysing transport and closing public offices. 3. Poll fraud 'hits at democracy' data: 19.03.08 Safeguards to combat voting fraud are 'easily bypassed' because of weaknesses in the registration system, it was claimed. 4. Gerrard hailed as hero in Anfield thriller data: 10.04.08 Despite admitting to playing one of his worst games for Liverpool, Steven Gerrard was hailed a hero once again after helping his team overcome Arsenal in a pulsating Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday. 5. Zell lifts mood with zany jokes at Tribune data: 10.04.08 Since taking control three months ago of Tribune Company, publisher of the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, Sam Zell has taken to peppering the typically bland company announcements with zany jokes and parodies 6. Notes from a hot and humid Friday in Sepang data: 27.03.08 7. Rising yuan threatens small exporters in China data: 10.04.08 One report estimated that up to 20 percent of low-end exporters could go belly-up this year as the harsher operating environment dissolves profits and demand slows in major markets like the United States. 8. BCE deal clears its final hurdle data: 10.04.08 BCE, Canada's biggest telecoms operator, has cleared the last regulatory hurdle for its proposed buy-out by a private equity group, writes Bernard Simon in... 9. Brian Reade: Blow me down.. it was only a bit wet data: 19.03.08 The good people of Columbus, Ohio, probably didn't have time to watch much international TV news this week. 10. Top Stories: Peter Banks, 44, dubbed 'Britain's worst drink-driver' data: 07.04.08 Britain's worst drink-driver was caught with at least SIX times the legal limit. 11. Boring press conference, telling moment data: 27.03.08 12. "Les Ch'tis," a glimpse on film into a unique French sensibility data: 07.04.08 How do you sell the world a movie like "Bienvenue Chez les Ch'tis?" 13. Features: Universal Studios reveals its new Simpsons ride data: 19.03.08 AS UNIVERSAL REVEALS ITS SIMPSONS RIDE, WE GET THE LOWDOWN FROM THE STAR 14. Scots beaches 'worst for waste' data: 10.04.08 Scottish beaches have the worst levels of sanitary waste in the UK, according to a new survey. 15. Kenya opposition urges restraint data: 10.04.08 Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga asks his supporters to exercise restraint after talks break down. 16. Cruise ship returns to UK waters data: 07.04.08 Passengers on a cruise liner stranded in Madeira for two days return to the UK after a three-month cruise. 17. Cityscape: Helping newcomers navigate the real estate maze of Istanbul data: 27.03.08 A modern businesswoman finds new residents a place to live in an ancient city beset by illegal construction and often untraceable ownership documents. 18. Nicholas Soames in court over quad bike stunt data: 19.03.08 Nicholas Soames, the veteran Tory MP, is to appear in court over footage allegedly showing him riding a quad bike on a public road with a child perched behind him. 19. Tony Parsons: Lionheart Prince Harry wins battle royal data: 19.03.08 The secret is out - idiot elements of the media have forced the early withdrawal from Afghanistan of Prince Harry. 20. RSPCA investigates The Fall frontman for 'killing' squirrels data: 10.04.08 Mark E Smith, the rock singer, is being investigated by the RSPCA after he boasted of killing two squirrels. 21. Open skies, cheaper fares â at least for now data: 07.04.08 The first phase of the open-skies agreement has added 20 percent more seats across the Atlantic than were available last April, bringing down prices. 22. Gloria Taylor data: 10.04.08 Mother of Damilola Taylor who rose above her grief to campaign for the underprivileged. 23. Paris braced for torch protests data: 07.04.08 Hundreds of French police will be deployed to protect the Olympic torch from protesters angry at China's role in Tibet. 24. Sarkozy defends France's nuclear arsenal data: 27.03.08 President Nicolas Sarkozy said the country would continue to reduce the number of warheads on airplanes but defended its arsenal as vital to deter new threats. 25. Tennis: Murray battles to win data: 19.03.08 Andy Murray battles past Croatian Ivo Karlovic in the third round of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells. 26. Yemen pushes Palestinian dialogue data: 19.03.08 Yemen holds separate talks with Fatah and Hamas in an effort to foster Palestinian national reconciliation. 27. Burma releases constitution data: 10.04.08 A constitution drafted by Burma's military rulers goes on sale in government shops, ahead of a May referendum. 28. The pope gets a guide for his U.S. tour data: 07.04.08 His guide will be a seasoned Vatican ambassador who sees the visit as an opportunity to introduce a complex set of audiences: American Catholics, Americans in general and global opinion leaders. 29. One in 10 school teachers have a 'top' degree data: 10.04.08 Fewer than a 10th of secondary school teachers have a top degree from a leading university in the subject they teach. 30. Anthony Minghella, Oscar winner, dies at 54 data: 19.03.08 Anthony Minghella, the British film director who won an Oscar for The English Patient, has died aged 54. |