Home Contractor vs. Homeowner

In a previous post, I discussed why now is a good time to renovate. I pointed out that builders are not as busy and can devote more time to their projects, the economy has weeded out a number of "fly by night" contractors who were not truly dedicated to the profession and there have been sales on supplies and materials. One advantage that I did not mention, however, was the opportunity to ask builders to cut their prices. That's because I do not believe it's reasonable for owners to try to negotiate lower prices, and it's not good for the profession for builders to do so. Professional builders are usually quite realistic when preparing proposals for projects. I have met many contractors who proudly tell me that their jobs do not go over budget (barring unforeseen circumstances). They are usually quite clear about their markups and profit margins and accurate when determining allowances. They exemplify the adage that "you get what you pay for." Consider f...

I must admit, this question has been plaguing me as it pertains to Massachusetts. This issue applies to residential renovation only, but I know of many high-end contractors who use this method for their projects . Massachusetts law provides: Chapter 142A: Section 2. Residential contracting agreements; requirements Section 2. (a) Every agreement to perform residential contracting services in an amount in excess of one thousand dollars shall be in writing and shall include the following documents and information: (1) the complete agreement between the owner and the contractor and a clear description of any other documents which are or shall be incorporated into said agreement;... (4) a detailed description of the work to be done and the materials to be used in the performance of said contract; (5) the total amount agreed to be paid for the work to be performed under said contract; Given that a Time and Materials Contract does not have a price, I would argue that it violates the Home Im...

Here's a great guest post from Paul G. Cox, the Business Development Manager at Vigilant Woodworks on wine c ellars: If you have a growing collection of wine, it may be time to think about building a wine cellar or tasting/entertainment area in your home. Some time ago the custom wine room was unusual; today more and more wine lovers are learning about wine cellar construction or contracting the work out to those who know how to do the job properly. Wine cellars are more than a dark, cool place to stock a collection of wine bottles. Today’s custom wine cellar is a controlled environment where humidity and temperature are regulated to allow wine to correctly age without damage to corks, labels or the wine itself. There are two styles of wine cellars . One is an area that has been particularly made to store wine in the correct environment and the other is a stand-alone system that duplicates those conditions. A stand-alone wine cellar is ...