One the many New Year’s resolutions many Americans make every year is the decision to do a home project or two around their homes. It is a good incentive and it seems more practical than other resolutions we make.
If you have decided to do a home project and need the help of a professional, hiring a contractor may the next step for you to follow through. If that is the case and you are ready to move forward remember this:
The state of Ohio requires licenses and permits for many sellers and other contractors in the state.
If you are ready to hire a contractor to do some work in your home, a license and permit are required if you want the work, and your home protected.
These are several businesses that require a license and permit to do business in the state of Ohio:
- Electric Contractors/Installers
- Plumbers
- HVAC Contractors
- Real Estate Agents & Appraisers
- Boiler Operators
These permits and licenses are required to perform the work and they ensure that the consumer is protected from predatory and shady contractors. These contractors have to undergo a series of testing, criminal background checks, fingerprinting and even some financial bonding requirements. Hiring a contractor should not be a deterrent to postpone a serious problem you have in your home. There are many contractors in the state of Ohio that have excellent customer satisfaction records and a long history in their communities.
Some of the serious problems that you may encounter when doing home projects can include:
- Foundation problems
- Basement waterproofing issues
- Roof issues
- Electrical problems
- Sewer problems
These issues can become a major financial problem if you ignore them, and for the majority of us, they require the help of a professional. From a small issue that can be easily repaired, these home issues can become big problems pretty quickly.
Other home issues that people don’t tend to take seriously are the gutters and the drainage system in their home. If you want the rain and snowmelt to drain away from the foundation of your home, you need to have gutters and the drainage pipes to take the water at least ten feet from the foundation, otherwise you will have water sitting around the foundation of your home that will eventually find its way to the walls and basement of your home.
If you are ready, and before hiring a contractor, check your local BBB website to find the rating of some of these businesses. Check customer satisfaction reviews and complaints about the business, and call at least three different contractors before you make a decision.
Have a spectacular and a great home improvement year!
