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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. Gordon Brown appears on American Idol data: 10.04.08 He had snubbed the opening ceremony of the Olympics, but Prime Minister Gordon Brown had no such qualms about appearing on US talent show American Idol. 2. Afghan civilians killed in raid data: 19.03.08 US-led forces in Afghanistan say a woman and boy have died in a raid, locals say four more killed were also civilians. 3. 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. 4. Father of soldier killed in Afghanistan 'will sue MoD for damages' data: 19.03.08 The father of a soldier killed in Afghanistan vowed last night to take legal action against the Ministry of Defence, demanding that it accepts liability for his son's death. 5. EU attacks Sri Lanka over rights data: 19.03.08 An EU delegations says it has "serious concerns" about reports of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. 6. Judges rule in Saudi arms inquiry data: 10.04.08 Judges are to rule whether the scrapping of a probe into a controversial UK-Saudi arms deal was illegal. 7. French demand Betancourt release data: 07.04.08 Marches are held in France to call for the release of French-Colombian Farc hostage Ingrid Betancourt. 8. Rivals 'should share licence fee' data: 10.04.08 Some of the BBC's licence fee could be shared with other broadcasters, media watchdog Ofcom says. 9. Stories of another escape route out of East Germany data: 27.03.08 Thanks to the work of a German researcher, the full extent of the attempts to escape from the Communist Bloc through Bulgaria - and the dangers - is just now coming to light. 10. City: Severn Trent fined for lying to customers data: 10.04.08 Severn Trent has been fined a record £35.8million for fiddling its figures. 11. 'Post Office Lite' at the village library data: 10.04.08 Royal Mail is to install mini-post office counters in village libraries and church halls across the country after the closure of thousands of traditional post offices 12. Bank tipped to cut interest rates data: 10.04.08 The Bank of England is widely expected to cut interest rates to 5% amid signs the credit crisis is hitting the UK. 13. Sue Carroll: Shameless to sneer at Shannon's family data: 19.03.08 For a nation which has spent the best part of a year praying for the safe return of Madeleine McCann, news that missing girl Shannon Matthews had been found alive was joyous. 14. Has Sir Alan met his match in The Apprentice? data: 19.03.08 Sir Alan Sugar, the archetypal bully best known for his withering put-downs, will come face to face on the new series of The Apprentice with a woman who successfully sued a city law firm for victimisation. 15. Junior doctors 'bullied' into unpaid overtime data: 07.04.08 More than half of junior doctors are being "bullied" to work hours of unpaid overtime, the British Medical Association has warned. 16. Top Stories: CCTV released of missing TV star Mark Speight data: 10.04.08 Police today released CCTV images of griefstricken children's TV presenter Mark Speight moments before he vanished three days ago. 17. 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. 18. City: Pools firm Sportech set for punt with horses data: 19.03.08 Football pools firm Sportech is ready to gamble its future on the Tote. 19. Russian girls support Vladimir Putin with pants data: 07.04.08 an girls wanting to appear both patriotic and seductive have been handed the ultimate weapon - underwear paying tribute to Vladimir Putin by a Kremlin-linked fashion designer. 20. Jobs: Mirror Works: Live wires data: 07.04.08 A row about the last song played at a concert prompted two friends to start recording shows and selling CDs instantly to departing fans. 21. France seeks a deeper Western commitment to Afghanistan data: 27.03.08 Even as it considers increasing the number of troops it has stationed in Afghanistan, the French government believes that military might is not enough to bring stability to the country, the defense minister said Tuesday. 22. Gloria Taylor data: 10.04.08 Mother of Damilola Taylor who rose above her grief to campaign for the underprivileged. 23. Freire first Spaniard to win Ghent-Wevelgem data: 10.04.08 Oscar Freire used his powerful sprint finish to become the first Spaniard to win the 209km Ghent-Wevelgem race on Wednesday. 24. Google faces loss of talent data: 07.04.08 For some early hires, the internet company has lost two vital ingredients: the anything-goes approach of a start-up environment and the chance to strike it rich 25. Gaza gunmen attack border depot data: 10.04.08 Two Israeli civilians and seven Palestinian militants die after a raid on a fuel depot near a Gaza border crossing. 26. Accounting firm under fire in collapse of subprime lender data: 27.03.08 A sweeping investigation found that KPMG enabled New Century Financial's "improper and imprudent practices." 27. 'UK needs 18,000 extra teachers by 2015' data: 07.04.08 Britain is facing a primary school teacher shortage, new figures have shown. 28. President of Chad pardons French aid workers data: 07.04.08 President Idriss Deby on Monday pardoned six French aid workers convicted in a kidnapping case, Chadian state-owned radio said. 29. Heather Mills and Paul McCartney: 'Waterfall' data: 19.03.08 The water thrown at Sir Paul McCartney's lawyer at the end of his acrimonious divorce settlement sounded like a "waterfall", Heather Mills' legal aide has said. 30. Number of complaints against the NHS soars data: 07.04.08 A growing number of NHS complaints are being upheld amid falling nursing standards and rushed GP appointments, according to a report published today. --- --- --- -x- |