CityvettedHomeowner 101 the fundamentals, explained plainly.
The fundamentals of hiring anyone, explained plainly.
Deposit, draw, final: how to pay a contractor safely
The payment schedule that protects you, how big a deposit is reasonable, and why you never pay in full up front.
All Homeowner 101
The 90-second license check that should come before every electrician
Every state has a free contractor-license lookup. We mapped all 50 and built a checklist for spotting a lapsed, suspended, or borrowed license number.
Liens, insurance, and bonds in plain English
Mechanic's liens, lien waivers, and what a contractor's bond actually does for you, stripped of the jargon.
How to read a contract: the eight clauses that matter
Scope, payment, change orders, and five more lines that decide how a job goes when something goes wrong.
Permits 101: when you need one and who pulls it
Why the contractor should pull the permit, what unpermitted work costs you at resale, and the jobs that always need one.
General liability vs workers' comp: what each actually covers
The two insurance certificates to demand, what each protects you from, and the gap that leaves you exposed.
Change orders: the paperwork that keeps a job from ballooning
Why every change needs a price you approve in writing, and how a clear change-order process saves the relationship.
A new guide every Sunday.
The week's new buyer's guides and rankings, with the editorial notes behind them. No sponsors, ever.
21,800 readers in 50 states. Unsubscribe anytime.