How to Hire a Remodeling Contractor

To pick the best loan for your situation, think about your situation. Your source for ready-to-use articles on all aspects of homeownership, including homebuying and selling, for your consumer communications. Looking back, Costello says she likely could have avoided some of her remodeling nightmare by spotting the red flags. Being licensed, bonded, and insured can lend houselogic.com credibility to contractors and offer protection to homeowners, but these credentials come with some limitations, according to Rudin. You can also find out whether a contractor you’re considering has been certified by an industry organizations. “If the company has a bad BBB rating, this means they likely have failed to satisfy real customers who had real experiences.”

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Ultimately, you’ll be working with your loan officer or broker to narrow these choices and find a loan that works for you and your finances. Only a select number of lenders offer USDA loans; here’s a list of USDA-approved lenders nationwide. Given the benefits, a VA loan is often the best mortgage option for people who qualify. A broad swath of people, including those with lower credit scores and income, use FHA loans. That depends on which government loan you’re looking at. If you’re not a first-time home buyer or you earn 80% or less than the median income in your area, the down payment requirement is 5%.

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On top of that were regular failed inspections, mismeasured doors and windows, hard-to-reach contractors, a carbon monoxide gas leak that sent Costello to the ER, and home renovation costs that inched higher than her $150,000 budget. 1 remodeling firm in San Diego” with “guaranteed customer satisfaction.” She thought she had done everything right. She gathered bids from four remodeling contractors, chose the middle-priced bid from a company that radio ads called the “No. One way to spruce up your home’s curb appeal is to upgrade the garage door.

Market Statistics: July 2026

• Informed by proprietary data, local knowledge and NAR’s chief economists, REALTORS® work to keep you ahead of the market.
• Housing myths may leave you confused about what’s really happening in the real estate market.
• “Items in a house should feel collected over time rather than feeling purchased in one go,” says Chelcie Eastman, cohost of the Magnolia Network series “Anything but Gray.” Rooms filled with matching furniture sets or overly coordinated décor tend to feel staged rather than lived-in.
• As more workers head back to the office, homeowners are rethinking their options for a workspace at home.
• The latest remodeling surveys show you may not need to overhaul your kitchen or invest in a top-notch bathroom renovation to make the biggest impact.

Anticipating it's release; I think is a good consumer tool that I hope consumers embrace. Not really – but it is an extra bonus to share with your clients! We provide a variety of services, including educational opportunities, professional standards enforcement, market statistics, legislative reviews, issues lobbying, multiple listing and lockbox services and more.

Expanding Impact

In mortgage shopping, it’s also important to compare loan terms and understand that adjustable rates can rise significantly over time. A real estate professional can help you prioritize which projects are strong investments in your market. One of the top remodeling projects that can increase homeowners’ satisfaction with their home is new wood flooring, according to the NAR report. Painting the entire home or even one room is the most common project real estate agents recommend to make properties more marketable, according to the NAR report. Indeed, a closet renovation could offer an 83% return on the upfront cost at resale and is one of the top remodeling projects the NAR report identified.

Lynn Ettinger has written about real estate and business for more than two decades. Following a seasonal home maintenance checklist will prioritize your time and money, familiarize you with your home’s systems, and protect your investment. First-time home buyers in particular are seeking co-buying solutions to overcome home affordability hurdles. The iconic REALTOR® logo means that you’ve found a REALTOR® – a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. LookForTheR.realtor (formerly content by HouseLogic) is a free source of information and tools from the NAR that you can use to help your clients make smart and timely decisions about their homes. All historical reports and data can be found in the REALTOR® Store.

HouseLogic content covers home improvement, maintenance, taxes, finance, insurance, and ways for homeowners to get involved in and enrich their communities. The National Association of REALTORS® cares about homeownership.