This is part 2 of the Contractor Problem series...

At some point many home owners may require the assitance of a General Contractor or other building contractor. These interactions don't always go well or as planned.

To help you avoid having problems with your contractor, here is a multi-part post outlining a few suggestions to aid you in your interactions with your contractor...

When in Doubt, Refer to the Contract

Always refer and reference the contract any time the scope of the work or the timeline is in doubt or changed.

If you began work without a contract (tsk, tsk!), it's vital that you establish something in writing as soon as possible! Beginning work with no formal agreement places your position in jeopardy if a debate or

At some point many home owners may require the assistance of a General Contractor or other building contractor. These interactions don't always go well or as planned.

To help you avoid having problems with your contractor, here is a multi-part post outlining a few suggestions to aid you in your interactions with your contractor...

Written Communication is Key

Many issues arise between contractors and homeowners due to miscommunication and a lack of updates.

Contractors can get wrapped up in  project details and fail to give notification of daily project progress or setbacks to the homeowners.Often, contractors are working on more than one project which can complicate the lack of communication as well.

It's always preferred communicate

Got carpet stains, or need to repair a small area of your carpet?

Here are a few easy home solutions you can try...

Slime

If someone in your house is a fan of slime, you probably have wished they weren't. Slime is primarily made of glue and most of it is washable. Try using plain white vinegar, on the area. It might take some patience, but you can get the slime out of your carpet!

Pet Messes

A handheld extractor (vacuum) can suck liquids from carpet and works better than attempting to absorb the mess with paper towels or rags.

Chewing Gum

Everyone's nemesis - Chewing gum on the carpet. Have no fear though, you can remove chewing gum from carpet as well as most other materials by placing ice on the area for a few minutes. Let it

Whether you are a new homeowner with limited handyman experience or a long-time DIYer, there are some easy things everyone should know how to fix.

Knowing how to fix these few common household problems can help save you from a pricey repair bill.

How to Fix a Wobbly Ceiling Fan

A fan that wobbles a lot can be dangerous and needs to be adjusted. You can learn how to check and adjust the ceiling fan by watching any number of YouTube videos or visiting one of the many appliance repair sites.

How to Fix a Running Toilet

Fixing a running toilet is relatively easy and if left to run can be quite expensive in your water bill. You can purchase the insides which come with instructions from your local big box store. The trick is to make sure you

Here is my latest series on the necessity for home inspections.

When purchasing a home, it is highly advisable that buyers obtain a home inspection from a qualified and licensed home inspector.

Why?

Well, the following are just a few issues found during normal home inspections... ( Photos and images generously provided by Structure Tech). After seeing these real-life home inspector photos (and after you've stopped giggling), you'd have to wonder what these homeowners or contractors were thinking!

 You can "Right click" and select "View Image" to see larger images.

Toilet Designs That Should Never Be
	Ceiling Tub Spout The bare-all window isn’t even the strangest part of this bathroom arrangement. Look closely at

Here is the final installment in my series on the necessity for home inspections. Remember to check back often for more home owner posts.

When purchasing a home, it is highly advisable that buyers obtain a home inspection from a qualified and licensed home inspector.

Why?

Well, the following are just a few issues found during normal home inspections... ( Photos and images generously provided by Structure Tech)

Home Inspections that sting
	What’s a TPR Valve? Not willing to be outwitted by a water heater, Billy Joe Bob decided that the TPR (temperature, pressure relief) valve should only drip when he wanted it to drip. A TPR valve is an important safety feature, and the photo shown is NOT an appropriate solution!

The protection of our families is of utmost importance to us all. So when the wind starts blowing and the waters begin to rise advanced precautions and preparations will go a long way to ensuring our families safety!

Here are just a few tips on Storm Safety.

Get a Glow in the Dark Flashlight

Easy to find glow in the dark tape wrapped around a flashlight makes it easy to find the light when the power goes out.

Leave it or mount it somewhere readily available in cases where it's needed quickly

Be aware of Lightning and Electrical Storms

During an electrical storm it is highly advisable to stay indoors.

However, here is something you may not be aware of.... Lightning can still get to you indoors by following the conductive paths within

Here is another installment in my series on the necessity for home inspections. Remember to check back often for more of these goodies over the next few days/weeks.

When purchasing a home, it is highly advisable that buyers obtain a home inspection from a qualified and licensed home inspector.

Why?

Well, the following are just a few issues found during normal home inspections... ( Photos and images generously provided by Structure Tech)

Home Inspections that sting
	All employees MUST wash their hands before returning to work! Genius! With this setup, you can wash your hands and your feet at the same time! A small bathroom requires a certain amount of planning.
	Beer can inspection panel

As we're now in another Hurricane season, I thought it prudent to remind my customers, friends and family about a few things you want to avoid during a power outage.

In no particular order, here are just a few things to avoid during a power outage...

AVOID...

Lighting Candles

While many believe this is the first thing to do, in actuality it is something to avoid. While candles are certainly a mood enhancer and has it's place, they can cause a fire. They don't really provide strong lighting where as a lantern or flashlight would be more preferable as a light source.

Letting Your Phone's Battery Die

Playing on your phone or other wireless device for hours might seem like an appealing option to wallow away the time during a power outage.

Here is another installment in my series on the necessity for home inspections. Remember to check back often for more of these goodies over the next few days/weeks.

When purchasing a home, it is highly advisable that buyers obtain a home inspection from a qualified and licensed home inspector.

Why?

Well, the following are just a few issues found during normal home inspections... ( Photos and images generously provided by Structure Tech)

Home Inspections that sting
	Jacked-Up House I’m not certain how much weight that jack stand is rated for, but I’m pretty sure a house is a bit over the limit. It’s important to understand load-bearing posts.
	Kitchen exhaust vent routing fun Yeah, this