Homeowners should choose their contractor and not be chosen by the contractor!

One of the most daunting tasks of home improvement is choosing the contractor for the job. Once the contractor is successfully chosen, the rest of the project will generally proceed very smoothly. Homeowners should not let an overly zealous contractor talk himself into the job. By following a few key steps, any homeowner can choose a contractor and not become prey to a bogus home improvement scheme.

The first step is acquiring estimates for the project. Several estimates will be beneficial, but a homeowner needs a minimum of three. The homeowner will take these estimates and begin to compile an average cost for the project. It is common knowledge that a homeowner needs to avoid low end estimates. High estimates should also be avoided. Eliminate all of the estimates that are not near the average.

At this point, it is time for the homeowner to be an investigator. The homeowner should verify that the contractor is licensed and insured. Ask for the license number and proof of insurance. The license number can be used to check the rate of successful inspections and the percentage of failed inspections. The contractor’s liability insurance will protect the homeowner in case of a structural accident or poor workmanship of the project.

The homeowner should never be persuaded to obtain an inspection permit using the homeowner’s name. If the contractor seems hesitant to have the project inspected or procrastinates on filing for an inspection, the homeowner should not use this professional. If the contractor’s license is valid, the insurance current, and the contractor is in good standing with inspection officials, the inspection of the project should be a simple routine task. It should not be a fearful ordeal

The homeowner should always get everything in writing. The agreement should be signed by both parties. Any changes made to the original plan should also be in writing and signed.

Finally, the homeowner should make sure that the contractor is a person that they can easily work with. This is definitely not a good time to discover a personality conflict.

No he can not do it.

The plural of homeowner is homeowners.

After purchasing a house, the homeowners will also need to purchase a homeowner's insurance policy. The purpose of the homeowner's policy is to repair the damages that occur when there is a flood, for example. The house may also be completely destroyed if there is a fire. A good homeowner's policy will pay to rebuild the house in case of these circumstances.

Homeowner's policies typically cover damage that occurs due to fire, lightning, hail and wind. Flooding is commonly not covered under the standard homeowner's insurance policies. Earthquakes also may be the type of peril that isn't covered under these policies. If homeowners live in an area where these disasters are likely to occur, they may purchase extra coverage that specifically names these perils as covered under their policies.

Homeowners have a choice as to how they would like to be paid after their homes have been destroyed by one the perils listed above. They may receive the amount of money that the house was worth at the time it was destroyed. What will make the policy more costly would be the other option; homeowners can choose to receive the full amount it would require to rebuild the house completely as it was before it was destroyed by fire. This may be the more advantageous option for homeowners.

When a house is completely destroyed by a disaster such as a fire, everything within it will also need to be replaced. Furniture, clothes and personal items will be unsalvageable. The homeowner's insurance policy will pay to repair or rebuild the house as well as replace everything that was in the house.

The other part of a homeowner's insurance policy is liability coverage. Liability coverage is needed in the event that an accident occurs on the property. For example, guests to the home could experience an accident on the homeowners' property and sue the homeowners for payment of their medical bills. The liability coverage will pay the homeowners' legal bills. If the other party wins the lawsuit, the liability coverage will also pay what is ordered of the homeowners.

Part of the cost of a house is the homeowner's insurance policy. People who purchase a house cannot be without it. Homeowners who resist purchasing homeowner's insurance will be very happy they have if there is ever a fire that completely destroys their homes. Their lives will be temporarily disrupted but with a good homeowner's insurance policy, they will be able to put their lives back together one day.

The cast of Ask This Old House - 2002 includes: Norm Abram as Master Carpenter Leila Aiello as Herself - Homeowner Frank Andreou as Himself - Terrazzo Floor Expert Jon Appleby as Himself - Homeowner Tim Ard as Himself - Chainsaw Expert Atara as Herself - Homeowner Islara as Herself - Homeowner Leng as Herself - Homeowner Kenan as Himself - Homeowner Erica Bailey as Herself - Homeowner David Baltramaitis as Himself - Insulation Contractor Ruth Bankers as Herself - Homeowner Jeff Bankers as Himself - Homeowner James Bardinelli as Himself - Homeowner Sue Benjamin as Herself - Homeowner Brian Bergeron as Himself - Electrician Harvey Berliner as Himself - Homeowner Maryann Bonifacio as Herself - Homeowner Rich Boudreau as Himself - Homeowner Dante Bouyer as Himself - YouthBuild Intern Erin Bowles as Herself - Homeowner Heather Brashear as Herself - Homeowner Kord Brashear as Himself - Homeowner Michelle Bray as Herself - Electrician Katie Britton as Herself - Homeowner Romalis Brown as Himself - HVAC Installer Gail Burke as Herself - Homeowner Laura Burnes as Herself - Homeowner Rob Bustamante as Himself - Homeowner Tiffany Campbell as Herself - Homeowner Christina Camputo as Herself - Homeowner Jim Cantore as Himself - Meteorologist: The Weather Channel Brian Caputo as Himself - Homeowner Wayne Carbone as Himself - Landscape Services: Harvard University Scott Caron as Himself - Master Electrician Scott Caron as Himself - TV Installer Carmelo Caruso as Himself - Homeowner Karn Case as Herself - Homeowner Andy Case as Himself - Homeowner Steve Castellarin as Himself - Homeowner Ellen Caulo as Herself - Homeowner Brijesh Chawla as Himself - Homeowner Ajay Chebbi as himself Esther Cibulskis as Herself - Homeowner Kris Cibulskis as Himself - Homeowner Amy Conner as Herself - Homeowner Jayne Conway as Herself - Homeowner Danielle Coppellotti as Herself - Homeowner Jamie Corman as Herself - Homeowner Rob Dardano as Himself - Stove Installer Will Daugherety as Himself - Homeowner Brooks Day as Herself - Homeowner Emily DeFalco as Herself - Homeowner Guy DeFalco as Himself - Homeowner Tim Deihl as Himself - Homeowner Eric Deitert as Himself - Homeowner Dave DiBona as Himself - Plumber Keith Diemer as Himself - Electrician Jim DiMarco as Himself - Homeowner Ferriss Donham as Herself - Homeowner Bruce Driben as Himself - Homeowner Betty Eber as Herself - Orchid Expert Karen Eisenhart as Herself - Homeowner Jimmy Fallon as Himself - Guest Doug Fasching as Himself - Epoxy Coating Specialist Ken Federico as Himself - Homeowner Carrie Finison as Herself - Homeowner Matt Foti as himself Matt Foti as Himself - Certified Arborist Bob Francesconi as Himself - Homeowner Martha Gach as Herself - Conservation Coordinator Mandy Gammons as Herself - Homeowner Sanders Gammons as Himself - Homeowner Wanda Garland as Herself - Homeowner Bill Gauld as Himself - Christmas Tree Grower Mark Giammalvo as Himself - Homeowner Beth Girioni as Herself - Homeowner Brady Goodell as Himself - Homeowner Heather Gramp as Herself - Homeowner Lucy Graziano as Herself - Homeowner Patrick Griffith as Himself - Botanist: Montgomery Botanical Center Joel Grimm as Himself - Homeowner Ryan Gunto as Himself - HVAC Technician Slater Harrison as Himself - Science Toy Maker Janet Hauser as Herself - Homeowner Tim Hawkey as Himself - Homeowner Mauro Henrique as Himself - Painter Mauro Henrique as Himself - Painting Contractor Pamela Hollasch as Herself - Homeowner Kyle Hollasch as Himself - Homeowner Hadley Horner as Herself - Homeowner Emily Huskins as Herself - Homeowner Brandon Ingersoll as Himself - Homeowner Richie Isaacson as Himself - Appliance Repairman John Isgur as Himself - Architectural Salvage Dealer Karen Jarsky as Herself - Homeowner David Jarsky as Himself - Homeowner Liz Katzman as Herself - Homeowner Tyler Keezer as Himself - Electrician Carrie Kelly as herself Carrie Kelly as Herself - Gardening Expert Carrie Kelly as Herself - Horticulturalist Carrie Kelly as Herself - Houseplant Expert Carrie Kelly as Herself - Plant Specialist Kristin Knowlton as Herself - Homeowner John Kulnis as Himself - Homeowner Dennis Langowski as Himself - Plumbing Contractor Rebecca Latour as Herself - Homeowner Jason Latour as Himself - Homeowner Amy Lemkin as Herself - Homeowner Jurgen Lobert as Himself - Homeowner Mindy Maslin as Herself - Manager: Tree Tenders Project Steve McCrohon as Himself - Homeowner Angelo McRae as Himself - Contractor Mike Mech as Himself - Homeowner Dara Meltzer as Herself - Homeowner Shawna Meyer as Herself - Homeowner Shamme Mitchell as Himself - YouthBuild Intern Lisa Molina as Herself - Homeowner Mark Morency as Himself - Homeowner David Nute as Himself - Homeowner Doug Oberhamer as Himself - Water Quality Specialist Lance Osborne as Himself - Entomologist Paul Panette as Himself - Homeowner Pat Pasanen as Herself - Homeowner Ron Peik as Himself - Lead Paint Abatement Specialist Ron Peik as Himself - Mold Remediation Specialist Mark Piantedosi as Himself - Landscape Lighting Specialist Tia Pinney as Herself - Mass Audubon Naturalist Steve Pottle as Himself - Homeowner Diane Pray as Herself - Homeowner Barry Pray as Himself - Homeowner Steve Rakitin as Himself - Homeowner Bill Raymer as Himself - Salvage Shop Owner Kelly Rizzuto as Herself - Homeowner Len Rizzuto as Himself - Homeowner Brian Rousseau as Himself - Propane Contractor Blain Runham as Himself - Homeowner Anthony Sakakeeny as Himself - Homeowner Clint Sanner as Himself - Chimney Expert Richard Scalzi as Himself - Vinyl Siding Installer Paul Scheckel as Himself - Energy Auditor Paul Scheckel as Himself - Energy Specialist Paula Schumann as Herself - Homeowner Mary Seiffert as Herself - Homeowner Tom Silva as Himself - General Contractor Martha Simmons as Herself - Homeowner Melissa Skwira as Herself - Homeowner Peter Somers as Himself - Concrete Fabricator Tracy Sonnemann as Herself - Homeowner Vicki Spears as Herself - Homeowner Paul Spinazola as Himself - Small Engine Specialist Keith Starosciak as Himself - HVAC Contractor Krasner Steve as Himself - Electrician Paul Szcesuil as Himself - Homeowner Joanne Toomey as Herself - Homeowner Chuck Travis as Himself - Homeowner Jenn Trendel as Herself - Homeowner Gary Trendel as Himself - Homeowner Richard Trethewey as Himself - Plumbing and Heating Expert Ross Trethewey as Himself - Renewable Energy Specialist Vinny Verderosa as Himself - Master Electrician Perta Violandi as Herself - Homeowner Michael Violandi as Himself - Homeowner Anukene Warda as Himself - Solar Power Installer Bill Wayner as Himself - Water Softener Installer Allison Webster as Herself - Homeowner Bryan Wendt as Himself - Landscaping Contractor Drew Wile as Himself - Homeowner Barry Wilensky as Himself - Homeowner Kelly Wilks as Herself - Homeowner Abby Williamson as Herself - Homeowner Molly Wong as Herself - Homeowner Andrew Zagorski as Himself - Safe Room Installer