GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – As people have spent more time at home over the past year, many are realizing they want to take any extra time they may have – or stimulus money they may receive – and put it towards some kind of renovation.
“More people see a need to improve their home space, plus they have more time and now with the stimulus checks coming out, they might have a little extra cash in their pocket,” said Susan Bach of the Better Business Bureau. “Come up with a budget and stick to it, because home improvement projects can get pretty expensive very fast.”
If it’s a simple project, or if you’re a handy person, home improvement projects can be fun – and beneficial.
“A lot of projects will pay for themselves eventually, like improving your energy efficiency. Not only will they save you money and help the environment, but they will up the value of your home,” Bach said. “Bathrooms and kitchen remodels can definitely completely change the look of your home while also improving the resale value of your home.”
However, if you’re not quite Chip and Joanna Gaines or HGTV-ready, you might be looking for a little extra help.
“Consider hiring a professional if it’s a bigger job because you want to make sure that you’re meeting codes and doing things safely and correctly,” Bach told WTAQ News.
But not every professional is the same.
“Make sure that they have proper licensing and insurance, which are things that they should be able to show you very readily. Get multiple quotes to compare apples to apples. The lowest quote may not be the best quote because it’s missing some things,” Bach said. “Never pay full in advance. Set up some kind of payment schedule. Pay maybe a third down, a third when the project is halfway complete, and then the final payment when you’ve had a chance to inspect the finished project.”
And not every ‘professional’ is who they claim to be – as some could be questionable at best.
“Don’t settle for just verbal promises. It has to be in writing, otherwise it’s like it never happened,” Bach said. “We also rate them on an A-plus through F scale. That’s the best place to start, and it’s free information on companies.”
You can find the Better Business Bureau’s company rating tools here.
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