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If youre planning to renovate your home, choosing the right contractor is critical. You have probably been advised to seek word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family members. While those can certainly be helpful, you shouldnt rely on them exclusively.

The Contractor May Not Have Experience Relevant to Your Project
Your friend or family member may point you toward a qualified contractor, but that company is not necessarily the right one for your project. Its important to consider what the contractor did for the person who made the recommendation. Hiring someone who does not have much experience with the type of work you want to have done could be a mistake, even if that contractor did a stellar job with someone elses project and received a glowing recommendation.

For example, your friend may have been thrilled after having the kitchen remodeled by a company that renovates kitchens all the time. If you want someone to build you a new deck, however, that company may not be the right choice if it has only built a handful of decks for other customers.

You Might Have Issues With Subcontractors
General contractors often hire subcontractors, such as plumbers and electricians, to complete parts of a project. Some contractors run a tight ship and keep a close eye on their subcontractors to make sure their work meets high standards, but others dont. Ask a contractor you are considering if subcontractors would handle some of the work. If so, ask who the subcontractors would be, how the contractor would oversee their work and how complaints would be handled.

You Might Prefer a Different Communication Style
Ask about the contractors method and frequency of communication. Maybe the contractor your friend hired responded to emails at the end of the day and that was fine with your friend, but you prefer to communicate via text and want the contractor to respond quickly if you have a question or concern. Make sure the contractors communication style would work for you.

Research Contractors Before Making a Decision
Always get bids from at least a few contractors. Invite each of them to your home to see its current condition firsthand and to discuss the changes you want to make. That will allow them to give you detailed estimates based on specific details, not assumptions, so you can compare apples to apples.

Ask for each contractors license and insurance information and request the same information for any subcontractors that might work on the renovation project. Verify the information with your state and local governments. Also ask about the background check process for subcontractors.

Check each contractors online reviews and request references from recent clients. Focus on comments from people who had projects done that were similar to what you want. If you come across multiple comments about issues such as dishonesty, poor quality of work, lack of responsiveness or unwillingness to address complaints, think twice before hiring that contractor.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A headboard in your bedroom can act as an accent piece or make a statement. Unfortunately, headboards can get pricey, especially when they are upholstered. Instead of spending a big chunk of change, take on this simple DIY project and create your own upholstered headboard. Heres everything you need to make a custom DIY headboard.

Supplies:

Scissors
Plywood
Upholstery Foam
Batting
Spray Glue
Staple Gun
Fabric

Preparation:

Before you start creating your new headboard, make sure to cut your plywood to the width of your bed and your preferred height. Roll out your upholstery foam and cut to size to fit across your plywood, measured in height from the top of your mattress to the top of the headboard.

Step 1: Lay down your pre-cut plywood. Roll out your pre-cut foam and use spray glue to secure it to the wood.

Step 2: Lay batting on the floor and flip over your foam-covered plywood. The batting will be used to further secure the foam to the wood and offer more cushion underneath your fabric. Tightly pull the batting over the edges of the plywood and use your staple gun to hold it in place. Trim off any excess batting around edges.

Step 3: Flip your plywood, now with upholstery foam and batting securely attached, back over. Lay the fabric across the board, lining up the edges to your liking. Flip the headboard back over with the fabric now facing the floor. Secure with pins or clips if necessary. Just like the batting, pull the fabric taut over the batting and, using your staple gun, staple the fabric into place. Trim off the excess fabric from the back.

All thats left is to mount your headboard. Now, you can enjoy your stylish and custom bedroom space!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Saving enough money for a down payment is a struggle for many people. If you have an individual retirement account, or IRA, you may be able to use some of your retirement savings for a down payment on a house, but you should carefully weigh the pros and cons first.

Rules on IRA Withdrawals for Home Purchases
Under most circumstances, you can only withdraw money from an IRA after you have reached the age of 59 1/2. Earlier withdrawals may be taxed, and you may have to pay a 10 percent tax penalty. Exceptions are made for first-time homebuyers.

A first-time homebuyer is defined as someone who didnt have an ownership interest in a primary residence in the previous two years. If youre married, your spouse must meet the same requirements. If you owned a vacation home in the past two years, you can still use money from your IRA to put a down payment on a primary residence.

If you have a traditional IRA, you can use up to $10,000 to buy, build or rebuild a house. You wont have to pay a 10 percent penalty, but you will have to pay income taxes.

If you have a Roth IRA, you can withdraw an amount equal to your IRA contributions without paying taxes or fees, since the money was taxed before you made contributions to the retirement account. After youve withdrawn a sum equal to your contributions, you can withdraw up to $10,000 in earnings or money converted from another account without having to pay a penalty.

If youve been contributing to your Roth IRA for less than five years, youll have to pay income taxes on earnings, but not on converted funds. If youve had your IRA for five years or more, you wont have to pay any taxes or penalties.

If you currently own a house, you can use up to $10,000 from your IRA to help your or your spouses child, grandchild or parent make a down payment on a first home without paying a tax penalty. You can make multiple withdrawals, but none of them can exceed $10,000.

Is Using IRA Money for a Down Payment a Good Idea?
Retirement savings benefit from years of compounded interest. Withdrawing a large sum of money could jeopardize your long-term savings. This is particularly risky if you havent saved much and are nearing retirement age.

Even if you arent planning to retire soon, annual IRA contributions are limited. You might not be able to catch up to where you were before you withdrew money for a down payment on a house. Think carefully before tapping into your retirement account to fund a down payment for your home or someone elses.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Believe it or not, despite your best efforts, some of your cleaning habits may be doing more harm than good. Be sure not to do the following:

Closing the washing machine door. Closing the door after a load of wash is done seems like a no-brainer. In actuality, you should be leaving the washing machine door open when the laundry is finished. The airflow will actually help prevent mold and mildew from building up inside your machine. If your laundry isnt smelling as clean as it should after washing and drying, that could be the culprit. When leaving the door open, take extra care if you have small children and pets.

Using paper towels to clean glass. When cleaning mirrors and windows, your best bet is a microfiber cloth. Paper towels will leave streaks and a trail of lint.

Using a spray cleaner on car windows. A spray cleaner will leave a pattern of drops and streaks on car windows, so opt for a foam cleaner instead.

Microwaving kitchen sponges. According to studies from Real Simple, microwaving sponges to clean them is not as effective as once thought, so using them to clean kitchen counters, etc. may actually be spreading bacteria. The safer bet? Replace your sponges once a week, or use cleaning cloths that can be put through the washing machine.

Not cleaning your cell phone. Since our cell phones tend to go everywhere, studies have revealed that they may carry more germs than a toilet seat! So even if youve done a great job cleaning your homes surface, every time you place your phone down is a chance for spreading bacteria. Follow safe practices for cleaning electronics, and make sure to regularly clean your mobile devices.

Make these few, quick adjustments to your routines for more effective cleaning and a healthier home.

Source: Real Simple

Published with permission from RISMedia.

These four features will provide the utmost relaxation, pleasing friends and family alike.

Outdoor Sauna

An easy addition to the backyard, an outdoor sauna provides multiple benefits to your body and cardiovascular health.

Plunge Pool

For those who enjoy the restorative properties of hydrotherapy, a plunge pool will have you feeling fresh and energized.

Massage Room

For the ultimate in personal wellness, a tranquil massage room is the perfect way to bring your home spa to the next level.

Meditation Studio

Daily meditation can help promote both mental and physical well-being. A designated place to practice will help incorporate it into your routine.

Published with permission from RISMedia.