In today's economy, contractors may be more willing to take on your home improvement projects -- for less.
Americans are spending less on remodeling these days, thanks to a "dour economy," says USAToday.com. The website notes that across the U.S., the home improvement market will likely contract 12 percent this year, which comes after last year's 10 percent decrease.
But while that's bad news for anybody in the remodeling business, it's good news for homeowners looking to remodel this year. Less business for remodelers means that it'll be easier to get a contractor out to your house for your fix-up project, and he may charge you less for it. Also, more contractors are accepting smaller jobs that they used to, the website says.
Perhaps that's why I've had more luck getting contractors to work on projects for my home this year. I finally was able to get a contractor to fix a leaky window this year (after half a dozen contractors refused the small job in years prior), and another contractor fixed another of my home's windows just a few weeks ago.
Now, my husband and I are looking to add a patio to our home, and have two contractors who are willing to do the job so far -- it also looks like that although summer is swiftly approaching, they'd be willing to start on the job right away.
In years past, I've had contractors promise to come out to my home and give estimates on projects to be done, with many no shows. But so far, the two patio contractors I've been in touch with this spring are following through. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
"They're a lot of hungry contractors out there," says one contractor interviewed by USA Today. —Lauren Baier Kim