We had the pleasure of being able to custom make and install this fabulous custom barn door in a home in New Port Richey. The client always loved the look of old barn doors and decided to incorporate this into their other renovations they were doing around the home. The addition of a custom barn door does wonders for the looks of the interior of your home. Next time you renovate, think about ways you can work this into your plan.
Protect Yourself and Your Investment
We come across cases like this every now and again and feel that its time to remind people of the dangers of working with unscrupulous contractors. A local news story out of New Port Richey has found recent customers of a 'large' local roofing company, 80+ to date and counting, have found themselves in a very unfortunate situation. Their houses have had liens put against them because the contractor they used never paid his suppliers or sub-contractors. According to Florida law, those who work on your property or provide materials, and are not paid-in-full, have a right to enforce their claim for payment against your property. This claim is known as a construction lien.
If your contractor fails to pay subcontractors or material suppliers, the people who are owed money may look to your property for payment, even if you have paid your contractor in full!
~This means that if a lien is filed against your property, your property could be sold against your will to pay for labor, materials, or other services which your contractor may have failed to pay.~
Protecting Yourself
If you hire a contractor in the state of Florida and the improvements cost more than $2,500, you should know the following:
You may be liable if you pay your contractor and he then fails to pay his suppliers or contractors.
There is a way to protect yourself. A Release of Lien is a written statement that removes your property from the threat of lien. Before you make any payment, be sure you receive this waiver from suppliers and subcontractors covering the materials used and work performed on your property.
Request from the contractor, via certified or registered mail, a list of all subcontractors and suppliers who have a contract with the contractor to provide services or materials to your property.
If your contract calls for partial payments before the work is completed, get a Partial Release of Lien covering all workers and materials used to that point.
Before you make the last payment to your contractor, obtain an affidavit from your contractor that specifies all unpaid parties who performed labor, services or provided services or materials to your property. Make sure that your contractor provides you with final releases from these parties before you make the final payment.
Always file a Notice of Commencement before beginning a home construction or remodeling project. The local authority that issues building permits is required to provide this form. You must record the form with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the property being improved is located. Also post a certified copy at the job site. (In lieu of a certified copy, you may post an affidavit stating that a Notice of Commencement has been recorded. Attach a copy of the Notice of Commencement to the affidavit.)
In addition, the building department is prohibited from performing the first inspection if the Notice of Commencement is not also filed with the building department. You can also supply a notarized statement that the Notice has been filed, with a copy attached.
The Notice of Commencement notes the intent to begin improvements, the location of the property, description of the work and the amount of bond (if any). It also identifies the property owner, contractor, surety, lender and other pertinent information. Failure to record a Notice of Commencement or incorrect information on the Notice could contribute to your having to pay twice for the same work or materials.
Prior to filing a lien, a lienor who does not have a direct contract with the owner, must serve the owner with a Notice to Owner. The Notice to Owner must state the lienor's name and address, and a description of the real property and the nature of the services or materials being furnished. The Notice to Owner must be served before commencing, or within 45 days of commencing, to furnish the services or materials (but before owner's final payment to the contractor). A lien cannot be enforced unless the lienor has served the Notice to Owner as described above.
Whose Responsibility is it To Get These Releases?
You can stipulate in the agreement with your contractor that he must provide all releases of lien. If it is not a part of the contract, however, or you act as your own contractor, YOU must get the releases.
If you borrow money to pay for the improvements and the lender pays the contractor(s) directly without obtaining releases, the lending institution may be responsible to you for any loss.
What Can Happen If I Don't Get Releases Of Lien?
You will not be able to sell your property unless all outstanding liens are paid. Sometimes a landowner can even be forced to sell his property to satisfy a lien.
Who Can Claim A Lien On My Property?
Contractors, laborers, materials suppliers, subcontractors and professionals such as architects, landscape architects, interior designers, engineers or land surveyors all have the right to file a claim of lien for work or materials. Always require a release of lien from anyone who does work on your home.
Contesting A Lien.
A lien is valid for one year, unless a lienor files a lawsuit to enforce the lien prior to the expiration of the year. An owner has a right to file a Notice of Contest of Lien during the one-year period. Upon the filing of a Notice of Contest of Lien, a lienor must file a lawsuit to enforce the lien within 60 days. Failure of the lienor to timely file a lawsuit renders the lien invalid.
Before you hire a contractor, ask questions. Ask for references. Check online reviews. Ask to speak with the owner of the company. All of these things can go a long way in allowing you to make the proper decision to go with an honest contractor that will work hard and you can be assured that your investment is protected.
Bathroom Remodel in Davis Island
From the start of this build, we knew that the finished product would be breathtaking. The client had a vision in their head of what they wanted to accomplish with their bathroom remodel and we delivered. From the new vanity, to the tile selection, to the amazing frameless glass shower, this bathroom will rival some of the most elegant out there. If you are looking to update any areas of your home we would be happy to help you along your journey.
Bathroom Remodel in Oldsmar
We must admit, this is one of the more luxurious bathrooms we have remodeled. The client came to us with an idea of turning their dated 80's era bathroom into something that might rival a beautiful Tuscan retreat. Their existing bathroom was an open floor plan that was well over 400 square feet so the room was ample for renovations! The existing shower was closed in and felt like you were walking into a tunnel with no lighting, we had to do something about this. Also, the bathtub was more for looks instead of function and not only was the design dated, the equipment had seen better days. We went in and removed all of the old areas including the shower, the bathtub, and some of the flooring. Between DCI and the client, we came up with a design that is truly spectacular. The larger shower basin with full 6' frameless glass, the new corner soaker bathtub, the large custom medallion set into the floor, the new doorway into the water closet, everything came together beautifully. We also replaced the existing countertop in the guest bathroom on the other side of the home to add a small update to that room as well.
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Deck Construction in Palm Harbor
We had the opportunity to meet a fantastic couple in Palm Harbor that had a great project in mind. They wanted some more entertainment space outside their enclosed pool area. We talked about different ideas and settled on this perfect exterior deck that turned out great. We removed soil and grass from the area to get the deck just about on grade. The client specified a specific composite deck board that they wanted and we delivered. We used hidden fasteners on the deck for the finishing touch.
A Real Life Story: Why you should hire a professional licensed contractor
It amazes me how often in our profession we come across unscrupulous individuals who take advantage of elderly people. We met a client in Pasco county who had a dilemma; they had a work stoppage placed on a room addition that they were constructing on their home. I went and met with them and come to find out the 'contractor' they had hired to build the room addition was not what he said he was. First off, he never pulled a permit for the addition on the home which is what started this whole mess off in the first place. They had paid this gentleman $15,000.00 up front as a down payment on their new space. He started construction and had the walls framed, roof sheathed, windows and doors installed when the Pasco County inspectors found out about it. They immediately put a work stoppage on the project and told the homeowner that they needed to obtain engineering and submit for a permit. They eventually found out the gentleman they hired wasn't even licensed in the state of Florida (he actually lived out of state). The homeowner came across our name on the internet and wanted to meet and discuss. We came out and inspected the situation; it was not good. Nothing in this room addition was up to code. From window installation, to certain aspects of the framing including thin plywood used as roof sheathing, roof rafters that had dovetails cut too deep jeopardizing the strength of the wood, no footers being poured to support the walls, the list goes on and on. The person they hired obviously had no idea how a proper room addition in the state of Florida is supposed to be constructed. Either that or he was just attempting to build this project on the cheap. Even if we were to obtain proper engineering for this client, there was nothing about the current structure that had been built that we could have used. Unfortunately this client had to hire us to demolish this new room addition they had just paid to have constructed. We had to cut it up and put it in a dumpster and hall it away.
We always tell our customers, please do your research. Make sure you are getting a quality product by a professional company. DCI Home Improvements strives to give our clients the absolute best when it comes to craftsmanship. When you hire us, you are putting a lot of trust in our corner and we aim to give you a product that you will not only enjoy and be issue free, but you will also be safe and secure. Make sure you do your research on the company you hire, whether it is DCI Home Improvements or another contractor. Ask to see licenses. Ask to see insurance paperwork. Ask for references. Do they have a website that you can access project info. Are they affiliated with The Better Business Bureau or Angie's List? Check to see if they have complaints against them. All of this research will pay off in the end as it will give you peace of mind that you have chosen the right contractor for your project.
Condominium Renovation in Belleair Beach
In April of 2016, we met with a client in Belleair Beach that had just purchased a 3rd story condominium. What they wanted to do for their remodel was a total redesign of the living space. We talked about different ideas. Went back and forth with different designs. Spoke with vendors at length to make sure we could provide exactly what our client wanted. And in the end, we presented a design that the client fell in love with. What was once a cramped and dark living space turned into a brilliant open floor plan design that our customer is sure to enjoy for years to come. Scroll to the bottom for before pictures.
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Bathroom Remodel in New Port Richey
We had the opportunity to meet a wonderful client who had accessibility issues with their current bathtub/shower. They were unable at their advanced age to step over the existing 20" tall bathtub and requested a shower be installed instead. They had a limited budget so we were able to work with them to get exactly what they wanted for a reasonable price. Scroll down for before photos.
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Bathroom Remodel in Brandon
We were approached by a wonderful client in Brandon that wanted to dramatically redesign their shower area in their bathroom. They had an existing bathtub that was impractical and never used and an undersized shower that was in desperate need of enlarging. We spoke with the client and talked about different ideas and came up with a design that fits the bathroom perfect and looks amazing! Scroll down for before photos.
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Bathroom Remodel in New Port Richey
When you are looking to renovate your bathroom, look no further than DCI Home Improvements. We were approached by a client with multiple projects on their wish list. The first of which was one of the guest bathrooms in their house. This room they wanted to totally renovate so we took their ideas and came back with designs that they really fell in love with.
