Are Your Worker Insured?

As a handyman and remodeling general contractor, we carry $1M/$2M general liability insurance to protect our customers and ourselves from unforeseen problems. So, every time we bid a job, this insurance cost is included in the price we charge for our services. In addition, if the job we are bidding requires a license, we only hire licensed sub-contractors to perform that work.

On many occasions, we are competing with workmen that are not licensed, have no insurance and are not qualified to perform the job at hand. Customers assume everyone is "required" to be licensed and have insurance, but the truth is, there are licensing laws, but there is no law requiring insurance. In fact, when a customer hires an unlicensed and/or uninsured contractor to perform work on their home, they are taking the risk of damage to their home, and more importantly, the risk of injury to the contractor and his/her workers. They also take the risk of damage these contractors may do to their property and the property of others.

Hazards of Hiring an Unlicensed and/or Uninsured Contractor

While licensing isn't necessarily a measure of competence, it does imply a certain level of professionalism and suggests that the contractor is committed to his or her job. More significantly, licensing and insurance can protect you from a number of potential problems, such as the following:

• Unlicensed means - uninsured. If you use a contractor who is unlicensed and/or uninsured, it means the contractor has no way of reimbursing you for any property damage he or she may cause. This means you end up paying the price. Likewise, if contractor carelessness leads to injury or damage to someone else's property, the problem is likely to become yours.

• No coverage under the homeowner's policy. THIS IS A BIG ONE!!! Most homeowners believe it is safe to use an unlicensed and uninsured contractor, assuming that any damages incurred would be covered under their own insurance policies. However, this isn't the case. Most homeowner policies require that any work to the property be done by licensed and insured contractors; coverage is often specifically excluded for damages caused by "bootleg" contractors.

• Noncompliance with building codes. Most building projects, even minor ones, usually require permits and inspections. Unlicensed contractors are often unfamiliar with the applicable building codes and are unable to obtain permits. If your project isn't permitted or doesn't comply with building and zoning codes, you may - and probably will - be ordered to remove or repair the job. Even if a building inspector doesn't "catch" your code violation right away, you will almost certainly have to correct it if and when you try to sell your house.

• Con artists. Scams in the construction industry especially in the home improvement business have become almost legendary in the last few decades. Con artists posing as qualified contractors, and often targeting the elderly, have made national news any number of times. Even so, unwary homeowners continue to be taken in by these pseudo contractors, who often promise unrealistically low prices or use scare tactics to close the deal. In these cases, the homeowner typically ends up with either an incomplete or low quality.

• Poor quality work. Not all unlicensed contractors do poor quality work. And not all poor quality work is done by unlicensed contractors. However, as a rule, if there's shoddy work to be done, it's usually done by unlicensed contractors. Because unlicensed contractors aren't subject to meeting specific standards, they are often untrained, less experienced, and unqualified to do certain types of work.
  
  Sloppy work by an unlicensed and uninsured contractor could have serious ramifications. "Basically, it's a safety hazard if your work isn't done improvement project - and several hundred, or even thousands of dollars less.

• Limited recourse for broken contracts. If you have a dispute with a licensed contractor, you can call his or her licensing agency. Some licensing agencies offer mediation services or maintain a guaranty fund to help consumers recover their losses. At the very least, the licensing agency has the authority to suspend or revoke a dishonest contractor's license. While this doesn't necessarily ensure a contractor will play fair, it gives him or her considerably more incentive to do so.  If the contractor is uninsured, it usually indicates they are not financially able to cover problems is the arise.

In most cities, a contractor must provide the city with a certificate of insurance showing the city as a certificate holder in order to pull building permits in that city. The problem is that most contractors who are not licensed and do not carry General Liability insurance will not pull a permit anyway. In addition, there are many small jobs that do not require a permit, and even if they do, an unlicensed/uninsured contractor will "SCAB" the job and not worry about permits.

The problem here is that you are responsible to ensure that the work performed was done in accordance with city code and requirements.  If the city finds out work was performed on your home without a permit, they can require you to remove walls, sheetrock, cabinets and any other impediment to inspecting the work to ensure it was performed according to code. If you sell your home, this can become a hidden defect and could get you in heavy legal issues with any buyer of your home.

In short, protect yourself and your family by only hiring licensed and insured contractors... Make sure anyone who works on your home is licensed and carries enough insurance coverage to protect you, your family and, more importantly, your home.

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site athttp://www.onecallhomehandyman.com for more information. You can also contact us by phone at (832) 800-4441.

Quality At A Low Price?

We get a lot of calls from customers wanting us to provide service in their home and when we give them the price, they have a cat....  What is up?

Why do people think they can get high-quality service at discounted prices?  Do they think that just because we are a smaller independent handyman company, we can perform quality work at a lower price than the other larger companies?

The fact is, we carry the same insurance, have more experience and usually more qualified tradesmen than the large companies do,.  We also provide much better customer service and warranties....

The only thing I ask my customers is, do you want price or quality?  I also tell them, "It is almost impossible to get both!!"

We have over 50 years of combined construction experience and hire only the highest trained and experienced tradesmen.  Our business relies on repeat business and our customer testimonials tell the story,

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com , go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/ or call us at 832-800-4441.

Repair Disposal

We get many calls from customers telling us their garbage disposal won't turn on but makes a humming sound when you flip the switch. If you keep trying to turn it on, it won't do that for long because it will probably trip the breaker on the bottom of the disposal.

If you have this problem, it usually means you have a stuck flywheel and the reset button on the unit itself or the fuse or circuit breaker in your electrical service panel will trip and turn off very quickly. The flywheel is stuck because something is lodged between it or the impeller(s) and the shredder ring.

To repair this issue follow these easy steps:

1. Turn off power to the garbage disposal at the electrical switch or service panel.2. Reminder: Don't ever put your hand down into the garbage disposal hopper (grinding chamber) with the power attached.
3. Take the offset wrench that came with the disposal unit and insert the wrench into the flywheel turning hole in the bottom of the unit. If you don't have the wrench you can pick one up from the hardware store that sells your garbage disposal.
4. Once the wrench is inserted, turn it clockwise to dislodge the stuck impeller or flywheel. When it dislodges, you'll feel the flywheel turn freely.
5. Another approach is to try and use a wooden broom-handle or similar wooden object to free the stuck impeller and flywheel from the top of the unit through the drain.
6. Place the broom-handle into the hopper and against an impeller. Use leverage to try and free the stuck flywheel. As before, when it dislodges you'll feel the flywheel turn freely.
7. Once freed, turn the power back on at the panel but don't turn on the disposal yet.
8. Go back to the disposal and press the reset button.
9. Run some tap water into the disposal and quickly flip the switch on and off turning the disposal on for a short burst. Turn on and off again quickly. That should spin the flywheel and the dislodged obstruction should be washed down the drain.
10. If for some reason the obstruction is being caused by a metal screw or nail you will need to turn the power off again and use a flashlight to locate the item. Once located use a magnet or screw grabber to retrieve the item. Once removed turn the power back on and follow the instructions in number 9 above.

You can also watch this YouTube Video

If you are unable to free the obstruction call a professional to assist you.

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/

Granite Countertops

As a handyman general contractor, we do kitchen and bathroom restoration projects on an almost monthly basis.  As a part of these restorations, the replacement of counter tops is a must if the project is going to be successful.

Before we started offering this type service, we did extensive research into the techniques and products necessary to accomplish this task and found that these type of repairs take extensive skills and know how, and only the highest skilled and experienced craftsmen can accomplish this task.

That is why we only send our best crews to remove and replace counter tops and have contracted with the best craftsmen in Houston to accomplish our granite counter top installations.

As you probably know, the beauty of natural stone is legendary. From counter tops to flooring, natural stone can turn an ordinary room into a showplace. Our natural stone products include granite, marble, travertine and quart, and we offer these items in a variety of colors, shapes and designs. From prefabricated and custom counter tops, we offer our customers the largest and finest selection.

Although there are many counter top choices in the market, we believe granite is the superior choice. Stunning and stylish, granite counter tops are the perfect addition to any kitchen or bathroom; blending well with both contemporary and traditional styles. It defines elegance in any area and contributes to the beauty of even the most modest kitchens or baths. Products made of natural stone will not depreciate with time and will add value to any property. There is no surface as distinct and unique in its beauty as natural stone. The durability of natural stone is also one of the main reasons it is selected.

In addition to withstanding high heat and traffic, stone such as granite is naturally resilient to scratches. Our granite is pre-fabricated at the manufacturer to save you both time and money. Our granite counter tops come in standard counter top and island sizes that will minimize waste and cost. With the edges already finished, our fabricator only needs to cut the granite pieces to length and add sink or cook-top cutouts prior to installation. These reduced fabrication and material costs ultimately save you money.

Our selection of granite includes 41 granite colors imported representing countries from all over the world such as Brazil, China and India, which gives you a diverse selection to suit your every need.

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/countertops.html for more information.  You can also contact us by phone at (832) 800-4441.

Inspection Repair Services

The listing make-ready and option period after a contract is executed, can be a very stressful time, as inspection reports can reveal an overwhelming number of flagged or non-compliant items. A good Buyer's or Seller’s Agent should do everything in their power to keep the contract in good standing and help their client reach the ultimate goal - CLOSING. To do this, most Realtors® have a group of licensed and qualified contractors to provide the best, and hopefully lowest, estimates possible for the repairs to be made. However, many buyers and sellers are astonished to find that many contractors are not willing to bid inspection repairs.

Much to the buyer’s and seller’s dismay, most contractors do not see any chance of their bid being accepted and are hesitant to provide free estimates. Unfortunately for you, the buyer or seller has to pay those contractors a “trip charge”, regardless of whether an estimate is provided or not. In many cases, the contractor will not bid at all, thereby making your task of getting an estimate harder.

One Call has a better option! Instead of dealing with multiple contractors, hoping for several estimates that are reasonable, One Call, though it's many years of experience and an extensive list of highly qualified sub-contractors, can provide an inspection review, invaluable feedback and one estimate report that outlines the costs of all repairs requested. 

Realtot's® and customers who have the correct information and are in touch with the trends are the ones who list, sell and complete transactions swiftly.

We charge a nominal fee of $105 for our standard inspection service or $150 for expedited service, which is credited if the Realtor® or client utilizes us to repair their home.

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/option.html and follow the instructions. 

Upgrading Lighting to LED Bulbs

We get a lot of calls from customers telling us they want to change the type of lighting they are getting in their newer homes from the standard incandescent down lighting.

After much study and research I have found that incandescent and halogen lights generate a huge amount of heat (about 3° F more heat in your house) that you have to air condition out, and cost you on average of between $150 to $250 more on your energy bill over the useful life of the replacement LED bulb.  That is about 75% more than the LED replacements, even with the extra cost of the bulbs.

After investigating replacement bulbs, I found that LED replacements at The Home Depot generate much brighter light and create a much more pleasant home environment.

There are multiple replacement bulbs I would recommend and they are as follows:

1. The EcoSmart 16-Watt BR40 LED Flood Light Bulb for standard down cans
2. The EcoSmart 14-Watt BR30 LED Flood Light Bulb for directional cans
3. The EcoSmart 6-Watt LED Light Bulb to replace a standard 40-Watt bulb or the EcoSmart 10-Watt LED Light Bulb to replace a standard 60-Watt bulb
4. The EcoSmart Candelabra 4-Watt LED Light Bulb to replace a standard 25-Watt bulb
5. And multiple others that are equivalent to other standard bulbs

The steps for replacing these bulbs are as follows:

1. Count your down can, directional cans, standard light bulbs and candelabra bulbs in your home.
2. Purchase your bulbs and try to see if the manager at The Home Depot will give you a discount for these bulbs.  They run between $15 and $35 each but last up to 25,000 hours, use about 20% of the energy of a standard bulb and produce almost no heat.  All of this can save you as much at $250 over the life of the bulb.
3. Remove the existing incandescent light bulbs.
4. If you are replacing standard light bulbs, go to number 8. 
5. While replacing can or down light bulbs, if the bulb being replaced is the same length as the LED bulb, go to number 8.
6. If you happen to have a short version of can or down flood, about 1" shorter than the new bulb, you will need to adjust the bulb support inside the can.  This is done by removing the cover from the can, loosening the wing nut that holds the bulb support, move the bracket up toward the top of the can by about 1" and then re-tighten the retaining wing nut. (see illustration below)
7. Once the bulb bracket is secure replace the cover.
8. Install the new LED light bulbs and test it to make sure it turns on and off properly.
9. Repeat these steps on every bulb until you have replaced all the bulbs.
10. Discard all replaced bulbs properly as required by your local garbage collection or recycling authority.
11. If you are unable to make any of the above adjustments or steps please call a professional to assist you.

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com for more information. You can also contact us by phone at (832) 800-4441.

Lighting A Water Heater Pilot After Gas Has Been Turned Off

We get a lot of calls from customers telling us they are having issues lighting their hot water heater after they have had the gas turned off. This is a common issue and is very easy to solve!!!

Here are the steps you should use to light your pilot and have hot water tonight.

1. Make sure your gas is turned on to the house and to the hot water heater.
2. Turn the top or side selector to Pilot and push down or in (black arrow to the right).  This will start the flow of gas to the pilot.  Since the gas has been off for a while, make sure you hold it down for a few minutes before trying to start the pilot.
3. After a few minutes, push the igniter button (red arrow) to create a spark at the pilot to light it.  If it does not light, continue to hold the knob down and repeat his step until the pilot lights.  You may have to hold it down for quite a while if the gas has been off for an extended time.  Just keep repeating this step until it lights.
4. Once the pilot lights, hold the knob down for a minute or so, release the knob and turn it to on.
5. The burner should light and start heating the water.
6. Make sure to adjust the water temperature below 120° F so you do not scald yourself.  

If all else fails just call a professional or One Call Home Handyman and we will help in any way we can.
 

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/