Construction Time

There is a big difference between regular time and “construction time.” It’s not unusual for a component of your project to take a month when it was previously planned to require a week. It is imperative that you ask your contractor up front for a detailed timeline and make sure there is plenty of padding built into the schedule for contingencies. Following are just a few examples of factors that can throw a construction schedule completely off track.

Negotiating with your Contractor

You wouldn’t enter into an important business deal without a contract. It is absolutely imperative that you finalize a written agreement with your contractor, sometimes referred to as a work authorization, prior to beginning construction. Although contracts of this nature can vary greatly in terms of lengths and formats, there are a number of key elements that should be included for your protection.

Resolving Contractor Disputes

When resolving contractor disputes, I recommend tossing your frustrations aside, taking a deep breath, and having a calm, but firm, conversation with your contractor. The last thing you will likely want to do is talk to him, however, it is typically the most effective — and least expensive — approach.

Difficulty with your Insurance Negotiation?

 

If you are experiencing difficulties in negotiating your insurance claim, you might try filing a complaint against the insurance company with your state’s Department of Insurance. Depending on the rules of your home state, it is likely that you will have to complete a form that asks you to describe your problem and suggest what you believe to be a fair resolution. I did this myself when I received a low-ball settlement offer and encountered difficulties in securing hotel reimbursement while my home was uninhabitable. Once you’ve submitted your complaint, an agent will be assigned to your case and will contact the insurance company to probe into your claim. Although involving the state agency won’t automatically guarantee an immediate settlement, your complaint will remain under his or her watchful eye and the insurance company will be more attentive to you.

Going Green without Spending Green

While I generally refrain from writing do-it-yourself oriented posts, I picked up some tips last night at a Home Depot Energy Clinic that I couldn’t resist sharing. These ideas really are so easy, anyone can implement them.  Better yet, you can go green without having to spend a lot of green. In fact, keeping your home’s energy bill low as we enter the winter season just might count on it.

Hurricane Ike Hero

I received a wonderful note from a gentlemen named Andy Coats. Andy has been working with volunteers on hurricane disaster relief since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. His blog, The Missionlog at http://www.missionlog.wordpress.com/, is an extraordinary narrative and visual account of Hurricane Ike’s devastation. Andy reports that the devastation in coastal Texas is very severe — equal and sometimes worse than the damage from Katrina in New Orleans.

Overshadowed by the election and economic meltdown, it is easy to forget about the horrible destruction in this part of the county. Disaster recovery can be a very long-term endeavor (in my case it took a year-and-a-half to completely rebuild my home). Andy’s blog provides a wealth of information about how you can help.

Is your Contractor Green?

Eco-Friendly Faucet

In addition to being great for the planet, green construction practices can also be wonderful for your wallet. Plus, it isn’t nearly as hard to have a green construction site as you may think. Following are some simple guidelines to ensure that your contractor stays green throughout your home remodel or repair.

Challenging the Insurance Company

One of the most important rules to remember in negotiating an insurance settlement is to never accept the first offer. I challenged the first offer sent to me with a long letter detailing

As Seen on ABC News

Click here to watch the interview!

Harvardtohardhat.com was recently profiled on ABC News in conjunction with its hurricane and tropical storm coverage.

Preparing for Home Disasters

Our hearts go out to the thousands of Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Fay victims. As we keep them in our thoughts, it is also a good time to remind ourselves that water damage can happen to anyone at anytime.  I am living proof.

There are a number of things I wish I had done to prepare myself to handle my own disaster recovery experience before the accident happened. I hope to make things easier for the next homeowner by sharing them in this post.