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Its Ask Gena, the Realtor a question time!
As always, names are never given nor specific addresses or areas.
You can rest assured that this is a place where your question can be posed with anonymity.
Now, lets get to our home owner question for this week.
Dear Gena,
After the recent weather that we had tree limbs fell on my roof and part of the fence is on the ground. I have had several people come and to look at the damage and give me bids. I have a couple of questions. How many bids should I get and is it really important to have a licensed person do the job?
Dear Unfortunate Homeowner,
Technically, you should get 3 bids and that way you will have a good idea as to how much it will cost plus the people giving bids should definitely be licensed. Remember, that when you hire someone to fix anything they can tell you they know how but if they have a license, then there is a better chance that they REALLY know how to fix what you need done.
More importantly, they need to be insured. What happens if they get hurt on the job at your house? Hiring a licensed contractor is in your best interest and will save you money in the long run.
Remember, that you should NEVER give more than 10% as a down payment. There should be a schedule of payments and no payments made until each portion of the work is completed.
Some of the things you need to be very careful about are liens. Liens can be placed on your home by people that were not paid by the contractor and by the supplier of the materials if they were not paid for. The contractor should be giving you, Notice to Owner. Remember that all changes or additions to your contract must be in writing. The contractor is required to let you know if they are insured and provide you with that information.
Things to Know When Hiring a Contractor:
- Check out the License with the State License Board
- Get 3 Bids
- Building Permits
- Read and understand the contract
- Do you have a 3 day right to cancel
- Contract should give start date and end date
- Contract should give detailed description of work and materials used
- If asked for down payment it should never be more than 10% or $1000 whichever is less
- There should be a schedule of payments upon work completed
- Notice to Owner should be given informing you about liens
- All changes or additions should be in writing
Here is a website where you can check to see if the license is valid at the California Contractors State License Board
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Other Ask Gena Questions:
HAVE 100 ACRES OF PLANTED PINE AG EXEMPT LAND IN JEFFERSON COUNTY FLORIDA I DID A SIMPLE LOT SPLIT OF 20 ACRES(MIM. BUILDING LOT) AND A SURVEY BECAUSE OF THE BANK AND BUILDING DEPT. I PUT A HOUSE ON THE 20 ACRES. THE TAX APRASIER SAID THEY TAKE OUT 1 ACRE OF THE 20 ACRES AND MAKE IT RESIDENTIAL.SHOULD I QUICK DEED THE 20 ACRES WITH HOUSE TO MYSELF AND HAVE TWO TAX ID’S ONE ON THE 20 ACRES AND HOUSE AND ONE ON THE 80 ACRES JUST PINE TREES. MY TITLE COMPANY AND TAX APRASIER SAID IT DOES NOT MATTER AND IF I COULD NOT PAY THE BANK WOULD ONLY GET HOUSE AND 20 ACRES AS DESCRIBED IN THE TITLE also what would be the best tax benifit THANKS EDDY
Eddy,
I am a Real Estate Broker in California and Florida real estate law is different.
This is a question you need to ask of a professional Realtor and possibly a lawyer in Florida.
Real Estate is local and each State is different.
You may also want to talk to your tax consultant as well.
Good luck.
I have three side fence in back of the home,
I side is facing to my nebighour and two side is facing to me. I am going to replace the fence. Which side is mine to pay to for replacement.?
Sathyan,
I am not understanding a 3 sided fence…
If your fence is shared between you and any neighbors, it is the obligation of each neighbor to pay half.
I hope that helps you.
iwould like to know if you brought a home in 2005 I had a pipe break under the house which was a water pipe and we didnt know the water was running for about two weeks and it set up mold then i called my adjust.He had them take out mold then they ran in to some more mold on the wall were the pipe broke and they didnt want to finished getting the mold because the kitchen was involved and it cost a lot of money to repair the problem i am having is that they did a add on and the pipe under are not straps i have a couple 2-20 wire not in metal box tape to the house and alot more etc. i was told i need a realtor lawyer if you can be help to me please thank you.
Gwendolyn,
I’m not sure what State you live in. As far as I know there are no Realtors that are lawyers. Perhaps, you meant a Real Estate attorney. I would recommend that you either open your phone book and find a real estate attorney or call your local Real Estate Association and ask them for a referral to a Real Estate Attorney.
I wish you best. Sounds like a real mess!