Finding and Hiring a Contractor

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Home Building

Building your own home is an often exciting, sometimes exhausting experience. It’s also a perfect chance to have a home that’s designed the way you want it to look. But whether you’re hiring a general contractor or doing most of the work yourself, it takes a lot of forethought and planning. The sites highlighted in this Web guide can help you find inspiration to create the home of your dreams and get much-needed help to ensure you don’t miss one of the many details that accompany this endeavor.

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Steps to Building a Home

Home building may seem like a complicated process—and it is—but we’ve found some ... read more »

The Cost of Building a Home

The cost of building a home depends on a multitude of factors, including what type of home you ... read more »

Choosing a Construction Site and House Style

One of the earliest steps in building a new home is deciding what type of home you want and where ... read more »

Building Codes, Building Permits and Variances

Part of building your new home is making sure you’ve got your bases covered in terms of ... read more »

Architects and Blueprints

If you’ve got ideas about designing your own home and need help translating them into ... read more »

Finding and Hiring a Contractor

Many people may help you build your home, but you’ll likely have one general contractor overseeing the project. Get the right person for the job by using the Web sites below for help finding, screening and hiring a contractor.

Dulcinea's Insight

Associations exist for professionals engaged in the many aspects of home construction, including masons, electricians, roofers and more. The Web sites of such associations may help you find certified professionals in your area that perform the type of work you require. B4UBuild.com has a directory of many of these associations.

Industry and trade association Web sites will most likely have some self-promotional material. Try to stay objective as you browse through site content. Ultimately, your goal is to find the professionals that can best meet your needs and wants during the construction of your home.

When trying to narrow down your list of potential contractors, check for those contractors online to see if they have Web sites with photos of work they’ve done. Seeing some of their work may help you make your decision.

Dulcinea's Picks

For advice on hiring a contractor …

PBS features an article from the TV show “Hometime.” This article discusses the difference between a general contractor and a subcontractor, how to collect bids and check references, and what you should know before you sign a contract.

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The Federal Trade Commission details some of the ways you can avoid getting scammed by a contractor and tells you a few facts you should know about paying for services rendered by a contractor.

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The Better Business Bureau is a nationally recognized organization that aims to help consumers conduct successful business transactions and be aware of any businesses that have a history of consumer complaints. Read this article to learn how to choose a contractor for your home build and how to engage in contract negotiations.

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To find a contractor …

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has an interactive map for finding a local home builders’ association in your area. Choose your state on the map to find the association nearest you and get recommendations for a builder to help with your home.

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The Associated General Contractors of America contains a search tool for finding a general contractor in your area. Search by organization name, by location or by “Member Type” (specialty contractors, general contractors, and service and supply companies).

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ServiceMagic connects homeowners to prescreened home improvement contractors. Search for professionals by type of work and your zip code. The service is free and easy to use.

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