Hiring Contractors
Make sure your contractors are licensed, bonded, insured and will pull the necessary permits. Ask for evidence.
Establish a payment plan:
- Pay no more than 10% up front.
- Pay 50% when the job is 50% completed.
- Pay the balance upon completion.
Many contractors do not want to work on top of each other and will ask you to schedule them on separate days. (Prima donnas, I swear.)
Replacing Older Plumbing
If you've always wanted to replace your plumbing, now that the walls are open, this is the perfect time. Here are a few tips:
- Realize that older plumbing may break and leak. Keep buckets handy to catch water leaks.
- Be prepared to replace your shutoff valves.
- Consider running a new gas line if your previous stove was electric.
- Install a shut-off valve box for the refrigerator.
- If you don't have a clean-out, put one in.
- Replace all the plumbing under the sink if it's galvanized.
