Home Energy Saver posted some eye-opening photos showing some common, hidden problems in homes on their “Wall of Shame“. From missing wall insulation to improperly installed heating register boots, these problems are more common than you may think, and can have a real impact on your comfort and energy bills. In the process of installing heating, air conditioning, and plumbing systems, we’ve seen all of these issues and more. A lot of our work involves fixing problems like these in existing homes.
Mike Holmes has become a TV star by working with home owners to make things right in their homes. My wife enjoys watching his shows, and it has been a huge help to me personally, because she now understands what we do a whole lot better! Every time she asks me, “can you believe that?”, I reply “unfortunately, yes. We see it every day.” In fact, Mike recently created a Public Service Announcement for the International Code Council, stressing the importance of building codes, and of having work permitted and inspected.
So how can you avoid situations like this? Mike Holmes has a few tips that we think are valuable. Beyond that, make sure to verify the following before hiring any contractor:
- Check contractor licensing with the appropriate state agency, and their employees have all required licenses and certifications
- Verify they have required liability insurance, bonding, and that their employees are covered by workers compensation insurance
- Check them out with the BBB, Attorney General’s office and other third party resources
- Review the terms of their contract carefully before signing it, and don’t sign it if it doesn’t clearly explain their responsibilities, as well as yours
- A deposit on work is reasonable, but don’t pay in full until the work is completed
- Insist that all work be permitted and inspected as required, and make sure permits are posted on site and/or provided to you
Doing a little bit of research ahead of time can save you from a real problem later on. BelRed offers a variety of services to help you improve the comfort, health, safety and efficiency of your home. For more information on what we can do to help you, contact us today.
