Angie’s List Report: Smart Winter Hires
(WDEF) If you’ve been putting off that bathroom or kitchen remodel, now may be the perfect time to do it.
Angie Hicks of Angie’s List said, "The winter is typically the off-season for contractors, especially around the holidays and heading into the first of the year. So, they are not as busy and you are potentially going to get some savings because they’ll have staff that they want to put to work."
In addition to easier scheduling, hiring a contractor in the off-season can also lead to big savings on products. You can often avoid price increases that typically happen in the spring for items like lumber, windows and doors. Also make pest control a priority.
Greg Johns is a pest control expert. He said, "This time of year, as all the berries and all the fields have been plowed, the rodent activity increases quite a bit. So, your suburb areas are going to notice an increase in your mouse calls that are coming in."
Along with sealing up windows and doors, experts recommend replacing your mulch with rock because mulch holds onto moisture, which attracts bugs.
Johns added, "If we can replace that mulch with rock and have that nice rock barrier between your house and your yard, you’re going to eliminate a lot of your insects."
Now is also a smart time to have your trees trimmed, which can help with pest and disease control.
Hicks added, "Most people think about tree trimming in the spring or summer, but the winter is actually a great time of the year because the trees are dormant. And also for the arborist they are able to get an unobstructed view of the tree and they can more clearly see where they want to trim."
Angie’s List says if you’re having trees trimmed find out how the debris will be handled. If you want the limbs for firewood, make sure that’s known. And remember, you can’t burn that wood right way. It needs to stay dry and covered for six months to a year.
Angie Hicks of Angie’s List said, "The winter is typically the off-season for contractors, especially around the holidays and heading into the first of the year. So, they are not as busy and you are potentially going to get some savings because they’ll have staff that they want to put to work."
In addition to easier scheduling, hiring a contractor in the off-season can also lead to big savings on products. You can often avoid price increases that typically happen in the spring for items like lumber, windows and doors. Also make pest control a priority.
Greg Johns is a pest control expert. He said, "This time of year, as all the berries and all the fields have been plowed, the rodent activity increases quite a bit. So, your suburb areas are going to notice an increase in your mouse calls that are coming in."
Along with sealing up windows and doors, experts recommend replacing your mulch with rock because mulch holds onto moisture, which attracts bugs.
Johns added, "If we can replace that mulch with rock and have that nice rock barrier between your house and your yard, you’re going to eliminate a lot of your insects."
Now is also a smart time to have your trees trimmed, which can help with pest and disease control.
Hicks added, "Most people think about tree trimming in the spring or summer, but the winter is actually a great time of the year because the trees are dormant. And also for the arborist they are able to get an unobstructed view of the tree and they can more clearly see where they want to trim."
Angie’s List says if you’re having trees trimmed find out how the debris will be handled. If you want the limbs for firewood, make sure that’s known. And remember, you can’t burn that wood right way. It needs to stay dry and covered for six months to a year.
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