13 guides
Home services how-tos
- General Contractor Cost: Fees, Percentages, and What You Pay General contractors charge 10 to 20 percent of total project cost or $50 to $150 per hour. Learn how GC fees are structured and what is negotiable.
- How to Sequence a Home Remodel: Trade Order and Timeline Demo, then rough plumbing and electrical, then insulation, drywall, finish. Getting the trade sequence wrong costs money. See the right order by project type.
- How to Hire an Electrician: Steps, Questions, Red Flags Hiring an electrician means verifying license tier, checking insurance, confirming permit responsibility, and getting three written quotes before you sign.
- How to Hire a Plumber: License, Questions, and Red Flags Hiring a plumber means verifying their license and insurance, getting three written quotes for jobs over $500, and reviewing the contract before work starts.
- How to Finance a Home Renovation: 6 Options Compared Home equity loans, HELOCs, cash-out refinances, personal loans, contractor financing, and FHA 203(k) each suit different projects. Here is how to choose.
- Hidden Costs of Remodeling: What Blows Renovation Budgets Change orders, permit fees, subfloor damage, and hazmat discovery are the most common hidden remodeling costs. Learn what contingency to budget before you sign.
- General Contractor vs Subcontractor: Who Does What A GC manages the project and hires subcontractors for trade work. Homeowners deal with the GC; the GC deals with subs. See what each role means for your contract.
- Contractor Insurance Explained: What Types You Need to See Contractors must carry general liability and workers comp. Missing either exposes you to real risk. This guide covers what each policy covers and how to verify.
- How to Vet a Contractor's License and Insurance Learn how to verify a contractor's license through your state board, confirm general liability and workers comp coverage, and request a Certificate of Insurance.
- How to Read a Contractor Contract Before You Sign Learn every clause a home-improvement contract must include, the red flags that signal a bad deal, and how to structure payments to protect yourself.
- How to Hire a General Contractor: A Step-by-Step Guide Learn how to hire a general contractor the right way -- from scoping your project and verifying licenses to reviewing contracts and closing out the job.
- How to Get Accurate Contractor Quotes Learn how to get accurate contractor quotes: define scope, collect at least three written bids, compare line items, and spot red flags before you sign.
- How to Avoid Home Improvement Scams Learn how to spot and avoid home improvement scams -- from storm chasers to bait-and-switch pricing. Practical steps to protect yourself before you hire.