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Avoid High-Pressure Sales Tactics - It's All Psychology Published September 26, 2022 It’s possible this is the most unique column I’ve written in the thirty years since Ask the Builder came to be. I think it’s important for you to know why I switched careers from being a full-time builder, remodeler, and master plumber to Read More »

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How to Find the Best Home Builder Over the past five months I’ve watched the dream of a neighbor I’ve yet to meet start to come true on my own street. It started just after the snow melted when two men arrived with a giant machine that wrestles logs and chain saws. Their job was Read More »

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QUESTION: Tim, I was spending a lazy weekend afternoon gazing at countless photos of actual treehouses that one could live in. I was intrigued and am seriously thinking of building one. Mind you, I’m not talking about some little box kids might play in and use a clubhouse. I’m talking a real two-bedroom home with Read More »

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Fraudulent Consumers Are In Every City and Town Fraudulent consumers and homeowners take advantage of businesses each and every day. They target builders and remodelers because the average building or remodeling job can run in the thousands and tens of thousands of dollars. The swindling homeowners can keep tons of money in their accounts and Read More »

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When it comes to building and remodeling, both homeowners and remodelers/builders have a wealth of information from which to choose. There are countless magazines, books, periodicals, technical journals and trade association literature to stay informed. All it takes is a little initiative on the part of an individual who wants to learn.

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Old vs New Construction TIPS Complex question - not easy to answer in limited space Many old materials superior to modern substitutes Workers today not as dedicated to quality Regulations, laws, wage packages put downward pressure on quality CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! Less than two hours ago, I was having Read More »

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Estimating the building cost of a new house involves a lot of factors. Building cost calculator software doesn’t always reflect current market conditions. You will need to do some research when estimating home building construction costs.

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New Home Quality Control I didn’t ask permission from my editor to depart from my normal question and answer format, but I’m sure he’ll agree this is a long overdue column. I’ve been writing this column now for over twenty-three years. Ask the Builder was first published October 2, 1993. It was my original goal Read More »

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Do you want to avoid getting SCREWED when hiring a contractor? Use the following SECRET tips below. Hack #1 Write out exactly what you want done and what you expect to be done on a piece of paper. Give this to each of the contractors who comes to give you a bid. Don't assume the Read More »

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An older woman who lives in Greenville, SC emailed me about a problem with a kitchen contractor in Greenville, SC. We went back and forth as I tried to offer some advice. I asked her permission if I could reprint the emails and she said, "You can use my location, might get people to check Read More »

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