home improvements

The road to recovery from storm damage can be a long one and one that you can’t travel alone. Whether you lack the skills to make the necessary repairs or the scope of the project is just too big, there are times when you will need a professional contractor to handle the work. While the majority of contractors are honest, hard working, and deliver the promised results, there is a minority who don’t measure up. Clean up from events such as hurricanes and floods gives these less-than honest perpetrators a large population to take advantage of. So how do you avoid getting caught up in a contractor scam?

Knock, Knock.

Most contractors don’t go door-to-door soliciting work. All to often when scams are reported in the news, the story begins with the scammer knocking on the door of an unspecting homeowner. There are several different hooks with the most common being they were doing work on a neighbor’s home and have extra materials they can offer for a discounted rate or they’re looking to do one big job with several different homes in one time frame. If the offer is good only for that moment it’s most likely too good to be true and you should decline.

No license, no permits, no problem.

If a contractor says their rates are lower than the competition because they don’t have a license to operate a business in your area or they won’t be requesting the proper permits from the local municipality…run. There’s a reason why this person or company doesn’t have a license and it doesn’t bode well for you and your home at all. Not seeking the proper permits can also cause headaches for you later resulting in hefty fines or having to remove the work and add it back with the proper permits and inspections.

Avoid Contractor Scams With These Tips

Write it down.

No work should be done on your home without a written contract. The contract should state the start date and the expected completion date, detail the work that should be done, the materials to be used, who will request the permits, and a payment schedule. If a contractor isn’t willing to put their work in writing, chances are they won’t be willing to honor any verbal agreement you make.

Money talks.

If a contractor provides you a “discount” for paying in cash without a receipt instead of with check or credit card ask the contractor (and yourself) “Why?” There are a multitude of reasons why the contractor wants to circumvent a paper trail and none of these reasons are good for you. If work is being done as part of an insurance claim, you as the homeowner should have most if not all of the communication with the insurance company and payment should be made to you as the insured, not the contractor. Also, any contractor who is looking to “pad” an estimate to provide to an insurance company with the promise of giving you the difference between the actual cost of the work and the estimate is committing insurance fraud and asking you to be a party to it.

Payment in full upfront is another red flag that should warn you that the contractor either doesn’t have a stable business or that they are looking to cut and run. There’s nothing wrong with providing a down payment but it should be detailed in the contract and you should be provided with a receipt.

Word of mouth.

The best way to find a reliable contractor is through friends and family who have had similar work done to their homes. Asking for references from reliable people provides you will a good starting off point. After you have names, research their business reviews through sites like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Angie’s List. You can also search to verify a contractor has a license through the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation. And of course meet with multiple contractors and obtain their written estimates before you make the final decisions.

One of the growing trends in the “going green” movement is individuals establishing their own fruit and vegetable gardens. You don’t need to own a large swath of land to be a budding farmer, a small patch of soil or even containers on a patio and a good amount of sunshine are all you need. We have some tips for what supplies you’ll need and what you steps you need to take when setting up a backyard garden.

Setting Up a Backyard Garden

Plan Ahead

If this is your first attempt at farming, start small. Choose three to four varieties of vegetables that you enjoy eating. Tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and peppers are popular choices for those getting started. Once you’ve decided what you’re going to grow, scope out an area on your property that will receive at least six hours of sunlight everyday. You’ll also want to investigate what growing zone you reside in to help you determine when you should sow your seeds, transfer your plants outside, and expect your harvest. Finally, testing the pH of the soil you plan to use for your garden, if not using a commercially prepared mix, is also recommended so you can adjust it to meet your plants’ needs.

Stock Up

Now that you’ve decided what you’re going to grow and where you’re going to set it up, you need to gather your supplies. If you’ll be starting your garden from seeds you’ll need to purchase seeds, peet pots or seed pots. You’ll sow your seeds in these small pots six to eight weeks prior to planting outside. You’ll also need potting soil designated for vegetables. If you are using containers for your plants be sure to get ones that are both wide and deep enough to support and sustain your plants. Whether you decide to plant directly in a garden bed or use containers, chicken wire is recommended to surround your garden to keep out pests who would like to sample the fruits of your labor. Tomato cages are also helpful to support not just tomato plants but also cucumbers and zucchini.

In the Thick of It

Once your area has experienced its last frost, you should harden your seedlings or store bought plants prior to transplanting them outside. To do this you should leave them in a shaded part of your yard for the majority of the day (being sure to bring them in at night), gradually increasing their exposure to the sun over a ten day period. Once harden you can transplant to your garden bed or containers. To ensure healthy plants you need to ensure they are receiving an adequate amount of water. A good rule of thumb is one inch of water per week, whether it comes from rainwater or from a hose is irrelevant. If the temperature is unusually hot or your plants look wilted extra water may be needed. You want to be sure that you don’t over water though which could promote the growth of fungi and molds.

Keeping your garden free from weeds is another important task. Weeds will steal nutrients and crowd out your plants. While there are some safe chemical pesticides to use, many people who tend to their own gardens do so because they want to eliminate their exposure to such chemicals. Manually remove the weeds is the easiest and safest option. Using organic mulch between your crops will also help reduce opportunities for weeds to sprout up.

Harvest Time

After all the time and attention you’ve put into your garden, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful looking produce but how do you know when it’s ripe? Many experts say “if it looks good enough to eat, it is”. So if it looks tasty to you, pluck it off the vine or bush and give it a taste. Many people find that their produce ripens all at once and experience a glut of vegetables. The best way to avoid this is to go out daily to see what has ripened and pick vegetables when they are relatively smaller. For instances, zucchini and cucumbers are best when they are no more than six inches long. This also goes back to why you should grow vegetables that you enjoy eating. And if you’re still experiencing a large crop, give them away or see if any other neighbors many want to swap crops with you. It’s a great way to get to know the people in your neighborhood.

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