Spencer - Southbridge Evening News

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12 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, April 4, 2008
& SPENCER NEW LEADER HOUSE Home Friday, April 4, 2008 You're planning to renovate your home. You're planning to build a new home. You have a major project to do on your home that you don't think you can handle by yourself. If any of these situations apply to you, you are probably in need of a contractor. A contractor, by definition, is someone with whom you'll have a contract. How do you know that you have found the right contractor? Well, it all depends on how you do your research. When you begin your research, take into account the scope of your project. What projects will you need done? Will they require electrical, plumbing or other special knowledge? When you begin your search for contractors, start by asking people you know who have had similar projects done. They may or may not be able to recommend someone, but they will probably at least be able to point you in the right direction. In most cases, you can start with the Yellow Pages of your local phonebook or by calling the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Most contracting companies should be licensed through the BBB. Using their recommendations, make a specific outline of your plan and present it to the contractors. You may require an architect's help on this if you are working on a large-scale project. Having a universal architectural plan can help ensure that contractors are all bidding and commenting on the same thing and keep you from getting confused comparing apples to oranges. Also, make sure that the contractors you are considering have workman's compensation and insurance that covers all of their License To Build employees. Without this, you could be liable for accidents that occur during your project. Once you have talked to your potential contractors for the first time, ask them for references. Check with the people they have worked for and ask them about the quality of their experience. Was the job finished in a timely manner and to their satisfaction? Were they able to work with the contractor effectively? How was communication at the beginning of and throughout the project? All of these are important questions that you should have addressed in order to ensure that your contractor will be someone that you can work with who will get you the results you want rather than just try to finish another job. About this time, you should start receiving bids from your potential contractors. Examine each bid in turn. Depending on the size of your project, you may want the aid of a lawyer. Don't be afraid to take a couple of days to examine all of the details of the contract and to ask for clarification of anything you do not understand. Make sure that all verbal agreements and understandings are included in the contract to solidify definitions and explanations. Keep in mind as you are looking at payment and pricing that you don't want to give your contractor all of the money upfront, but they may need some funding during the project. Reserve a portion of the final payment roughly Go Solar! equal to 10 percent of the project until all inspections have been passed and you have proof that all liens are removed from your house. This way, you can be certain your contractor will finish the job. It is wise to set out in the initial contract just what the contractor will and will not be responsible for, what their working restrictions are and who their crew will be. By doing this, you will know whether or not the contractor will clean up after themselves, whether or not they will apply for building permits, what union restrictions might apply and who is working on your house and what their qualifications are. With the initial contract signed and verified, all you have to do is take a copy of the contract and store it somewhere safe. Throughout the process, be sure to communicate with your contractor. Let them know any concerns you have or if they are exceeding your expectations. By keeping in constant communication with the contractor, they will feel more comfortable coming to you if something goes wrong or if they have a new idea. The relationship can also pay off if you have a project in the future for which you need a contractor again. In the end, you just have to be a careful consumer and be conscious of what you are signing when you enter into a contract. Choosing the right contractor can make your building experience easier and more enjoyable. There are clear advantages to solar energy. It saves the environment and saves you money!! For advertising infotmation call Tricia Ilacqua at 508-909-4062 SETH BOOTH ✦ Interior Redesign ✦ Real Estate Staging ✦ Interior Decorating Service ✦ Color Consultation 55 East Main Street West Brookfield, MA 01585 413-204-4777 lkaeppel@charter.net jadeinteriors.net SAND & GRAVEL Washed & Double Washed Crushed Stone (all sizes) Washed Sand Landscaping Stone (all sizes) Screened Loam Crushed Gravel Plant Location 53 Brooks Pond Rd. North Brookfield, MA 508.867.0400 508.864.4111 508.867.2260 Laurie Kaeppel C.I.D. #2353 WEST BROOKFIELD, MA • Utilities • Land Clearing • Drainage • Hardscapes • Residential & Commercial MASSACHUSETTS ANNOUNCES COMPETITIVE AUTO RATES Creative Landscaping will enhance your home ❦ Natural Lawn Care & Mowing ❦ Design & Ornamental Plantings ❦ Walks, Walls & Patios 508-892-3042 www.SunshineLandscapingCo.com At George E Mckenna Agency, we provide the best rate and the right coverage for our clients. We will work with you to tailor an insurance program to protect your family, home, auto and more. Combine home and auto for additional savings up to 20% on a homeowners policy. AAA auto discounts available. Call us today for a free, no obligation quote and start saving on your insurance premiums. ~ Serving Leicester and surrounding communities for over 75 years ~ George McKenna Insurance Agency 4 Pleasant St., Leicester, MA 01524 Phone Fax 508-892-8133 www.mckennains.com 508-892-7322 Call today for your FREE Lawn and Landscape Audit & Consultation Stephen L. Crowe, Mass Certified Landscape Professional • Solar Hot Water • Solar Electric (PV) • Solar Hot Air Panels and much more With rising prices can you pay for oil or invest in solar!! Sales - Service - Installations - Insured R. Barnes & Sons Sanitation • Septic System/Intallation & Repair • Cesspool & Septic Tank Pumping • Title V Certification • Portable Toilet Rentals • Reasonable Rates 508-867-3063 • 508-867-8993 www.barnessanitation.com Are you “sick” of your A/C not keeping you cool? We can end the pain with one “House Call.” Let CENTRAL MASS OIL, INC., a local family owned company keep you cool this year. Whether you have existing air conditioning equipment or would like a free quote to have new equipment installed CENTRAL MASS OIL is the answer. Don't fuss, be like “Gus” and keep cool this summer. INSTALLATION • MAINTENANCE • REPAIR Call Central Mass Oil, Inc. today 508-886-6823 Now servicing non-oil customers for Air Conditioning. All technicians are EPA certified. Call Bob @ 774-922-0400 or e-mail for a site evaluation. bob@cleanenergyfortoday.com North Brookfield, MA
Page 1 and 2: POSTAL CUSTOMER PRSRT STD U.S. POST
Page 3 and 4: BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY NEW LEADER S
Page 5 and 6: Heads up on bagging a bargain at Wr
Page 7 and 8: RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN PROVI
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Page 15 and 16: Spencer NEW LEADER B Section INDEX
Page 17 and 18: Church, committee to sponsor Pride
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