by Jody Costello | May 23, 2021 | Renovation Risks and Realities
From the 1930s to the 1980s, the carcinogenic mineral asbestos could be found in a variety of materials commonly used in the construction of homes, schools, and office buildings. Now known to cause deadly diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer, recognizing where...
by Jody Costello | Feb 1, 2017 | Renovation Risks and Realities
Honored to share my experience with this company. Enjoy! Jody Costello is the Founder of ContractorsFromHell.com and creator of “The Home Remodeling Bootcamp For Women,” an online course that guides homeowners through the risks and realities of remodeling. We asked...
by Jody Costello | Oct 24, 2013 | Renovation Risks and Realities
Including a final retainer clause provides you with additional protection. Retainer clauses allow you to retain an agreed upon amount for 2 weeks or up to 30 days after the project is complete. The retainer amount is typically 5% to 10% of the final draw amount or...
by Jody Costello | Sep 26, 2013 | Renovation Risks and Realities
That’s a question I’ve gotten a lot over the years and based on my prior experience in hiring contractors, I can only say yes. Then there are those homeowners who never conducted a background check on their contractor, did just the usual routine of...
by Jody Costello | May 30, 2012 | Renovation Risks and Realities
One of the groups I belong to on Linkedin posed the question about a homeowner telling a contractor that they didn’t want to pull a permit for a room addition. The contractor posed the question as to what he should tell the homeowner and everyone was quick to...
by Jody Costello | Apr 19, 2011 | Renovation Risks and Realities |
I recently received an email from a homeowner who asked if he should sign a Mechanics Lien document that was included with the contract he was to sign to begin a home renovation project. He made reference to some article he read – perhaps on my site – and...