Residential Home Improvement Contractors: Protect yourself With These Tips

As I say so frequently that I’m beginning to bore myself, “most remodeling contractors are honest and reliable individuals who want to do quality work at a reasonable price.” Unfortunately, there are just enough contractors out there (or people who claim to be contractors) who take advantage of their customers that some reminders and tips are helpful if you want to do everything possible to protect yourself and your property during home improvement.

1. Don’t make assumptions about referrals. Exercise the same due diligence in evaluating and checking out all contractors. You might have friends or relatives, co-workers or neighbors referring you to contractors they have used with good results. Many people are also simply trusting recommendations from home improvement stores. Even when you are referred to a contractor, check him or her out before you sign a contract. Consumer Reports recently released findings from a study of people who hired contractors to whom they were referred by the two leading home improvement stores. Their survey indicated that people who used these referrals had more problems and were less satisfied with the work than people who used other contractors.

2. Build your remodeling budget in a way that creates a 20% cushion for unexpected surprises. Although the National Association of the Remodeling Industry suggests an allowance of 10% to 20%, I think you are safer to budget for a 20% cost overrun due to surprises. There are literally hundreds of things that can happen or that can be discovered once remodeling begins that will result in a cost overrun. It is not uncommon, for example to discover termite damage, dry rot, damage from leaking pipes, outdated wiring, etc. My point is that you should not use your entire budget on the basics. You will be much more comfortable with your budget if you leave room for surprises.

3. Get a contract — don’t deal with a contractor on the basis of a proposal. If at all possible, get a contract that states a final price for the work, not an estimated cost that can go up or down. Your contract should be as specific as possible and as detailed as possible. It should also contain some kind of warranty for both the installation and the products or materials. You can also specify in the contract that all materials used will be new materials and meet the standards outlined in the contract. It should also state that any changes made during the construction period will be authorized only by written change orders that explain the difference in cost up front. If a contractor is unwilling to sign a contract stating the final price of the remodel, find another contractor.

4. Know what your insurance covers and take out a liability policy if necessary. It is usually easy to call your insurance agent and ask what is covered in terms of damage to your property, loss of property or possessions, and injury or death of a worker on your property during the construction period. You should also be certain that the contractor carries workman’s compensation insurance and liability insurance against injury or death of a worker and against damage or loss to your property or possessions. If you have any concerns about adequate coverage, discuss it with your insurance agent and consider taking out an additional policy during the construction period.

5. Monitor all liens placed against your property during construction (construction liens) by any contractor or subcontractor and ensure that they are removed when the project is finished and the contractor is paid in full. There are unscrupulous contractors who accept payment for a job and then do not remove the liens. In most of these cases, the homeowner is not aware of the lien until some time later when trying to sell the home or take out a loan for further improvements. When homeowners try to resolve the issue, the contractor claims that the bill or part of the bill was never paid and demands payment before removing the lien.

6. Never do business with someone who comes to your door offering their services.

7. Never pay a contractor the entire bill up front. Work out a payment schedule that reflects work completed, and put the payment schedule in the contract.

8. Specify the quality of workmanship and the quality of materials to be used in the remodel or addition in the contract. Not only should you specify materials quality, you should check materials to ensure compliance with the terms of the contract as they are delivered to the construction site. Insist that the costs of all building materials be specified.

9. Include all job specifications in the contract. The more specific the description of the work to be done, the more protection you have. Job specifications state exactly what work is to be done, how it is to be done, the quality of materials to be used, when it is to be complete, and that it must pass inspection.

10. Check all licenses, permits, proof of insurance, and state or local certification before you hire a contractor or subcontractor. Check to be certain the contractor has or obtains all necessary permits, licenses and certificates. Check with issuing agencies or insurance companies to confirm that insurance and licenses are current.

11. Insist that the contractor show you proof of bond coverage for the total replacement cost of the project.

12. Be sure the contract includes the appropriate information about how conflicts will be resolved, when and how the contract will be or can be terminated, and that lien releases will be provided upon payment.

13. If you give the contractor a key to your home for use during the construction period, change the locks as soon as construction is completed.

14. Take the necessary steps to protect your property and your possessions. Put away all valuables in a safe place. Define the construction area for everyone — tell your family not to enter the area during working hours; define limits of access to the rest of your home for the work crew. Protect your landscaping by covering shrubs if necessary and taking other steps to reduce accidental damage. Seal off the construction area from the rest of the house to confine dust, etc.

15. If you are remodeling an old home, make sure any work with potentially hazardous materials is done under the safest conditions and that hazardous materials are completely removed from the work site immediately and disposed of as instructed by your local government. Be sure any lead paint is properly removed; be sure any asbestos is removed and disposed of correctly; be sure old horse hair plaster (that could contain arsenic) is disposed of properly.

These tips will help you protect your family, your property and the people working on your remodeling project. Residential home improvement contractors should be very willing to cooperate on all of these points.

Copyright 2008 by ABCD Publishing

Commercial and Residential Bird Control

As one of the most ubiquitous animals in our cities, birds rarely go unseen. What cannot go unnoticed, however, is the damage they cause, in terms of both the physical destruction inflicted upon buildings, and the implications of their presence for public health and business reputations. Wherever a flock of birds exists, so too does the potential for lasting damage to premises caused by the build up of acidic droppings and nesting materials. Birds also carry a range of diseases that can be threatening to humans. It is with this in mind that businesses, local authorities and home owners must ensure that a proactive and thorough approach is taken to controlling birds, to ensure their potential to do harm is limited.

Busy cities with large numbers of people provide a multitude of food sources for pests. With food, birds, and people all in such close quarters, there is a high risk of birds spreading harmful diseases. Often, birds feed from polluted sources such as rubbish dumps, and bring germs directly to human environments such as picnics and outdoor eating areas. Gulls and pigeons are the two worst species when it comes to spreading disease. Pigeons carry the widest range of diseases of any bird, and have a tendency to breed very quickly. Gulls are particularly problematic due to their threatening and aggressive behaviour, especially during mating season from May to August.

Aside from protecting the local community from the implications of pest birds, councils also need to ensure their historic buildings and monuments are protected from unnecessary damage. Erosion caused by bacteria from bird droppings can result in irreversible damage to the structure of buildings especially buildings of age. For this reason it is important to be vigilant in ensuring that birds are not able to settle permanently in any area and become a nuisance.

The pest control industry has developed a range of ethical bird control methods, focussing on the principles of exclusion and restriction. Some of the most commonly employed methods include wire or point deterrent systems. These wire strands and metal points are non-lethal and discreet ways in which birds are prevented from settling on and around buildings, with benefits including a reduction in mess, noise, and the risk of infection to staff and visitors. Other methods include netting systems to cover large areas, and metal spikes to protect beams and ledges.

Anyone considering bird control should ensure they take a sensitive approach when considering the best way to tackle the infestation. Pest control experts are in the best position to advice on the most effective ways to safeguard your property from both exterior damage and possible public health risks.

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Commercial and Residential Pest and Termite Control

Your home is the place that you want to get back to at the end of the day. But what if your home is also home to a lot of other pests like cockroaches, insects, ants etc? A small number is not a problem but when they multiply and the place becomes infested then it surely becomes a matter of concern.

Nowadays with improving techniques man has been able to get a control of these organisms to a large extent. But if left untreated they can create absolute disaster, to say the least. There are various methods adopted to tackle different kinds of pests depending upon their rate of infestation and the area. For residential pest control, the treatment adopted would be different from that of commercial pest control. When it comes to residences it is likely that there are children who may be affected when harmful chemicals are used. Also every house and their problems being different, reputed agencies would study the intensity of the problem and chart out a unique plan for each home.

Apart from insects feral animals can also be a matter of concern at times. Cats, birds and other such feral animals can actually create a lot of damage. But there are professional pest management companies who also deal effectively in feral animal management. It would be impossible to get rid off and manage the feral animals by oneself. Seeking professional help is the best solution to this issue. Before going ahead with the services of a professional company it is best to do a study and shortlist a few good ones of repute. It is important to speak to them prior to giving them the contract. Ask about effective residential pest control methods that are going to be used. Find out about the chemicals used to handle the problem. There are many companies that use natural pest control solutions that are non-toxic in nature. Using an effective non-toxic method would be the preferred option as it is absolutely safe for all persons residing in the house.

Commercial establishments have their own set of pest problems. Warehouses where supplies and food grains are stored are an open invitation to pests. One has to take utmost care to ensure that the stock is not damaged. Commercial pest control methods are different in many ways considering the larger area that has to be protected. In places like warehouses where food grains and other food supplies are stored one cannot expect to use toxic substances. A careful plan and course of action has to be made out, to get rid off the menace. Feral animal management is a part of pest control. Their harmful effects can be as much or even more than other pests. Reputed and well-known pest control companies include feral animal management as part of their services but at the same time ensure that they deal with the problem in a humane manner.

Do not be let down by pest problems. Help is just a call away. The experts in the matter can help solve your problem effectively in a short span.

Flush Out Pests With Residential Pest Control Services

There is nothing more annoying to homeowners than a pest problem that won’t simply go away. Whenever you’ve got mice in your cupboards, ants invading your kitchen, or termites attacking the structure of your house, you need them dealt with immediately and without putting your family at risk. In most cases, going with a professional pest control service is the only way to ensure that the problem has been properly resolved.

The dilemma of controlling pests has taken a significant turn following the introduction of residential pest control services. The applications being employed for eradicating each type of pest is unique as there are a number of different variants of pests such as termites, rodents, spiders, bed bugs, bees/wasps, cockroaches, fleas, ants, etc. There are so many issues involved when addressing these nuisances. Perhaps the biggest issue is the resistance being developed by some of these pests. Recent studies have shown that certain insects and mites have acquired resistance towards specific types of effective pest control measures. In fact, even common pests like cockroaches and termites have shown considerable tolerance to traditional control measures.

This highlights the fact that residential pest control providers must always be abreast with the latest technologies and applications in order to effectively handle their clients’ needs and more importantly, to stay in business! It is also imperative to ascertain the proper implementation of effective pest control measures and to conduct consistent analysis about the intensity and kind of damage pests can cause. As these pests evolve in order to survive and evade current control methods, service providers must also be on top of their game and continuously come up with more effective measures of their own.

The cockroach is one of the most common pests in the household. Once left unchecked, they can leave a huge toll on your family’s health. The cause of several cases of food poisoning has been traced to pest infestation, specifically cockroaches. Moreover, these critters secrete allergens which may prove deadly for patients with allergic conditions and people suffering from respiratory illnesses like asthma. But if the pest control services are called on at an early stage, the problems can be addressed quickly before they can cause serious health issues. Other pests such as bees can attack in swarm and a number of fatal cases have been documented. Rats and rodents can contaminate food with their mere presence in your kitchen. Termite infestation can literally consume your house once you are not aware of the tell-tale signs that they are present.

In order to address all these problems brought about by these pests, there are plenty of online residential pest control companies which prove to be effective and offer their services at reasonable rates. However, even if you intend to call the pros, doing some personal reading related to pests and the way to eliminate them is a good idea. There are others who opt for DIY approaches, but they have to consider the risk of handling chemicals included in the pest repellents as they may pose a health risk for children or pets. Overall, the safest way is still the professional pest control service, if you are not sure of what exactly should be done.

How to Find a Residential Pest Control for Your Home

Pests do not only cause inconvenience, they also pose serious health risks to the household. Rodents carry diseases and possibly pass on rabies. They can invade and damage your home as well as your financial safety. Remove household pests from your home and keep it comfortable and clean.

Find the perfect team who can get rid of these pests fast.  Look for a local residential pest control technician who is willing to work with you in ensuring that both your home and family are protected from the risk of damage and disease caused by pests. An expert residential pest control technician should be able to eliminate your pest problems rapidly and cleanly.

Residential pest control providers look after household pests including:

Termites
Lyctus Borer
Anobium Borer
Spiders
Silverfish
Carpet Beetles
Clothes Moths
Cockroaches
Rats
Mice
Fleas
Bird Mites
Ants
Birds
Wasps, hornets and bees
Mosquitoes
Bed bugs

Check the pesticides and application utensils that the residential pest control technicians use. Make sure they are safe for the members of the family. They should not contain any chemical that may have any ill side effects to adults, pregnant women, children, and domestic pets. Make certain that they use the safest and most low toxic pesticides available.

Residential pest control service should cover every pest infestation that happens throughout each season. Team up with those who offer a free service backup period should your infestation not disappear after their first visit.

Friendly and effective commercial and residential pest control solutions are offered in your local area. They can eliminate the infestation, clean, and put measures in place to guarantee that pests do not reappear. First-class eco-friendly residential pest control provides complete protection so you can relax knowing that your home and family are in safe hands.

Other residential pest control providers also offer helpful advice on pests and pest management while delivering leading results to reduce the probability of future problems.

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Let’s talk about residential pest control and getting rid of the mole. The holes created by the mole are unattractive on our lawns plus the mole can do damage to the roots of our lawn. They will also harm the roots of any of our other garden plants. So let us find a way to get rid of the mole.  

Their living quarters is underground all the time and they burrow a maze of tunnels across our yard. If you are a gardener who takes pride in his landscape care, you will usually find the presence of a mole after a number of rainy days, generally in the spring and fall, when they have pushed mounds of dirt to the surface of your lawn. Something that the mole does not do is chew at your plants, that is probably the work of a rodent. Moles are not rodents. The mole has just made it a lot easier for the rodent to get to your plants by all of his tunnels.  

The mole only has two kinds of tunnels; one is the feeding tunnel and the other is the tunnel much deeper where all the feeding tunnels merge. The feeding tunnel will have small elevated hills that will run across your grass. Once the mole decides to come to the surface and deposit a mound of dirt similar to a volcano, he brings all the dirt from the deeper tunnel only.  

Sometimes we confuse the vole and the pocket gopher with the mole. It is easy to identify one from the other. The moles mounds, as mentioned above, look like a volcano, the pocket gopher mounds look like a horseshoe. The vole does not leave a mound of dirt, he builds a two inch wide highway close to the surface, and he does this by eating the blades of your grass and running over the same area again and again.   

There are poisons, mole repellents, and traps for catching the mole. You may not want to use any of these methods if you have children or pets running around. Probably the safest way to get rid of a mole is by planting a barrier of plants that is very offensive to the mole. This method will probably take a little longer to get rid of him but you will enjoy the plants.   

There are a number of flowering bulbs that are very offensive to the mole and one of them is the daffodil. There are a couple of others that are not as well known and they are the Siberian squill and the other is the yellow crown imperial. The Siberian squill has flowers similar to a bell that hang like a pendulum and the crown imperial has pendulum like yellow flowers. Both of these bulbs will also bloom in the spring, but they have an aroma that resembles a fox and that is very offensive to the mole. There are a number of other plants that the mole does not like and they are: the ornamental flowering onion, shallots, leeks, onion, garlic and chives. This method is probably the best way to get that mole out of your yard.

Now is probably as good a time as any to talk about the mole and residential pest control. Their holes are kind of unsightly on our lawns and they can do a bit of damage to the root systems of our grass. They will also do harm to the roots of any of our garden plants. So we really need to find a way to get rid of them.

They live underground all year long and weave many tunnels throughout our yard. If you are a gardener or a homeowner who takes pride in his lawn care, the mole usually makes his presence known after several rainy days during the spring and fall when they surface by pushing mounds of dirt to the surface. If you happen to look at your plants and it looks like something gnawed at it, it probably was not the mole, but a rodent. Moles are not classified as a rodent. The rodent also makes good use of the tunnels of the mole and will attack plants from under the ground.Pest Control Las Vegas

The mole has two types of tunnels; one is like a highway just below the surface and is classified as a feeding tunnel. This tunnel also has small raised hills running across your lawn. The other tunnel is much deeper in the soil and all the feeding tunnels merge into it. What you see on your lawn is usually a small mound of dirt that looks like a volcano; this dirt comes from the deeper tunnel.

Moles are easily confused with two other ground diggers – the pocket gopher and the vole. The easiest way to identify which pest is which is by what they leave behind. The mounds left by the mole are shaped like a volcano, and the pocket gophers mound looks similar to a horseshoe. The vole does not leave a mound; he will build a visible runway close to the surface that is probably about two inches wide. They are built by the vole eating blades of grass and running across the same spot over and over.

Probably the easiest way to remove the mole is by poisons, mole repellents, or by using a trap. The traps are made for killing moles and they have ominous names like “choker mole traps’, “harpoon”, or “scissors.” In order to trap a mole it is better to place the trap in an active feeding tunnel. To check for an active tunnel is by flattening one of the raised hills in the soil, mark it, and check back between 12 and 24 hour to see if the hill has been pushed back up. If it has, you have found the right tunnel. Now you want to remove the grass from over the tunnel and take out the soil just down to his path and place the trap making sure you do not leave any loose soil around it. Moles do not see very well but have a sensitive touch; they will find any loose soil and will move away from the trap.Pest Control Austin

A commercial poison is called Moletox and the formula base for repellents like Mole-Med is castor oil. You usually need to water the area where you are going to use these products first, so the product will soak into the soil. The package instructions will inform you if watering after the application is needed or if you need to re-apply it.

If you have children or pets, you may want to use another method other than poisons or killing traps. The repellent mentioned above is said to be safe but might render itself expensive if you need to re-apply on a continuous basis. You may want to plant a barrier of certain plants that are offensive to the mole instead of using the poisons, traps, or repellents. It may not work as fast but you will enjoy having the plants.

There are several bulbs that are offensive to moles, and one is the daffodil. There are two others that are lesser known: the Siberian squill with pendulous bell like flowers and the yellow crown imperial that has pendulous yellow flowers. Both these bulbs still bloom in the spring and have an odor resembling a fox which is not pleasant according to the mole. There are a few others that are offensive to the mole and they are chives, garlic, onion, leeks, shallots, and the ornamental flowering onion. These are some of the remedies regarding the mole and residential pest control.