My dog generally loves people, though she's usually a bit shy at first. Normally, when we have people come over, she has a chance to warm up to them and is their best friend in no time. However, we're having an upstairs bathroom remodeled, she's having a hard time with it (the noise and strangers), and is subsequently barking a lot. I have considered some of the anti-bark products (citronella, ultrasonic), but since I suspect this is fear-based barking, I don't want to encourage her to be even more fearful. We are especially motivated, because we're expecting a baby in 10 weeks or so, and we don't want her waking him/her up every time something goes bump. Does anyone have any tips or tricks that could make things better? Thanks, MeFi!
[more inside]
posted by stufflebean
on Apr 8, 2013 -
7 answers
I'm trying to hire a full time coder for my business. I build, maintain, and remodel my own portfolio of websites (PHP, JS, WP, HTML, CSS, MySQL, etc). Once I have a few candidates I would like to assign them all the same small (paid) project so that I may assess their abilities. What should the test include? All candidates will be US-Based. $6000/mo budget cap.
[more inside]
posted by Th!nk
on Mar 20, 2013 -
5 answers
Am I stuck with shouldering this or can I still go after the contractor? Water leaks from the upstairs shower into the kitchen on the first floor. This, after the bathroom was completely gutted and new plumbing, fixtures and tile installed. Problem is, the renovation was completed just over five years ago.
[more inside]
posted by terrier319
on Aug 31, 2012 -
9 answers
I own a house and needed a new furnace. I found a guy to do it, and he totally screwed me over. He left all his tools in my basement and not had any contact with me for a couple months. Do I own these tools now, and what if anything should I do now?
[more inside]
posted by BlackWalnut
on Feb 8, 2012 -
15 answers
I really need to sit down with a General Contractor, or Architect, to get a better understanding of estimating, bids, and contracts. I'd pay for the time, since it really is consulting, and I respect their busy time. Have contacted SCORE here in NY, but no result from it yet. I know a few GCs working on a small, residential level; but it would be inappropriate for me to approach them cause we may be working together. Have tried to ask some questions here on Meta, but they are too specific. A book, or reference won't do it. I need real, current info.
Any ideas?
posted by ebesan
on Jan 17, 2012 -
5 answers
Could you help me understand the structure and entities involved in DirecTV installation? This information I need pertains specifically to DirecTV, not to any other company. I'd like to know about the relationships between DirecTV and the companies and people who do the installations, and how the money flows between the various people and entities.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 12, 2012 -
3 answers
AIA Documents- Looking for an basic overview of documents and forms relating to Competitive Bids, Contractors, Invitation, Response. Is there a guide in clear language laying out the typical steps taken at this early stage, and the relevant forms available?
posted by ebesan
on Jan 5, 2012 -
4 answers
After spending most of the past year working on a cool project in a two-person team of contractors where we didn't have specified positions, what would be an appropriate job title to put on a resume?
[more inside]
posted by andrewmarc
on Nov 23, 2011 -
5 answers
Semi-regular need for freelance experts in things that are not "my areas of expertise," as Hodgeman would put it. Help needed not in finding particular people, but in knowing
where and
how to find the experts I need.
[more inside]
posted by webhund
on Jul 23, 2011 -
4 answers
What questions should we ask while taking estimates from mold remediation specialists?
[more inside]
posted by Orinda
on Mar 28, 2011 -
2 answers
Builders and contractors: is there anything that can be done, after-the-fact, about
very uneven, sloped concrete floors?
[more inside]
posted by rkent
on Dec 15, 2010 -
17 answers
Over the past few years I've hired a few people here and there to do various projects around the house. In general, it always comes down to me not being satisfied and having to fight to get things done correctly/compromising when it's just too much effort. I find it emotionally draining. Help me do a better job hiring people and managing their work.
[more inside]
posted by shew
on May 10, 2010 -
21 answers
I'm having my 200 year old house in New England repainted, and some significant carpentry work done, mainly to replace wood that has rotted. I have narrowed several bids for this job down to two. How do I decide which bid to accept?
This is a very big job, is going to cost a significant amount of money (five figures), and will have a very large impact on the value and integrity of the house, especially if its done wrong. The job is complicated by flaking, alligatory lead paint on many parts of the house, which will require special handling.
[more inside]
posted by mneekadon
on May 5, 2010 -
19 answers
A resource/marketplace to find/shop for facebook application programmers:
[more inside]
posted by Hurst
on Apr 6, 2010 -
2 answers
Please recommend resources for learning about home remodeling, particularly basement finishing.
[more inside]
posted by medusa
on Apr 30, 2009 -
3 answers
Does anyone have any recommendations for contractors in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area? I have bought a house in PG county MD which needs a complete renovation, and I need reliable contractors ASAP. All recommendations would be appreciated.
posted by gogomickey
on Apr 15, 2009 -
4 answers
I'd like to hire some designers/copywriters as contractors, how do I handle stuff like "comps" for my clients? Also, is it a common practice to tell the contractor that they will get paid when I get paid by the client? I have some more questions inside. These are partly business process questions and partly "contractor etiquette" questions.
[more inside]
posted by sideshow
on Mar 23, 2009 -
16 answers
The company I work for is interested in doing more with video clips in multimedia/video sales pieces (for tradeshows and sales visits) as well as smaller Flash web pieces for our company site. To that end, one of our marketing managers is starting to talk to video production houses in our area about doing some shoots to give us stock video footage to use in our marketing campaigns.
What are the questions you would ask when talking to such outfits you're thinking about hiring? What are the industry standards for video deliverables (file types and formats that can then be redeployed via Premier or Flash into a variety of media)? What red flags should we look for that indicate someone doesn't know what they're talking about and should not be contracted? Thanks!
posted by aught
on Nov 10, 2008 -
6 answers
Seeking recommendations for a contractor to build a wood privacy fence in Portland, Oregon. Also would appreciate advice on hidden costs, things to avoid, contractors to avoid, etc.
[more inside]
posted by J-Garr
on Jun 11, 2008 -
7 answers
Steel or Vinyl Siding: Leaving the general offense to aesthetics of both out of the equation (mostly), which one is better in the Midwest.
[more inside]
posted by quakerjono
on Jun 2, 2008 -
5 answers
What kind of things do you need to ask a home remodeling contractor, like about liability insurance, bonding and all that? How do you approach this with them? Do you take their word for it or demand proof?
[more inside]
posted by amfea
on Feb 25, 2008 -
7 answers
About how many people, including contractors and their employees, are involved in building the space shuttle?
[more inside]
posted by np312
on Jan 25, 2008 -
7 answers
I'm a one-person website development company. Things have been getting busy lately so I'm thinking about hiring my first part-time employee. This is new to me, so I'm looking for some advice.
[more inside]
posted by jpep
on Sep 14, 2007 -
11 answers
The end is near. Now, how do we expedite it? I'm talking about a house renovation, and a contractor who is trying to shake more money out of our pockets at the 11th hour. What would you pay for, knowing that this guy can make our lives a living hell with a mechanical lien or litigation. More inside ...
[more inside]
posted by terrier319
on Aug 16, 2007 -
7 answers
I want to retrofit my early-60's rambler so it's less likely to kill me during an earthquake (and so I can get earthquake insurance). Any recommendations for companies or contractors in the Seattle area?
posted by The corpse in the library
on Oct 18, 2006 -
4 answers
Does anyone have recommendations for a company to replace windows in Washington, D.C.? I've got a few original, uninsulated, leaded-glass windows that need to go bye-bye.
[more inside]
posted by delfuego
on Apr 4, 2006 -
4 answers
I can't seem to find a roofer who is interested in working on my house, but there is water pouring through my kitchen ceiling!
[more inside]
posted by anastasiav
on Dec 6, 2005 -
27 answers
Contracting with your neighbor -- wise or unwise? We are shopping around a major home improvement job. On the list of contractors is our next-door neighbor and friend, who has recently taken up contracting as a second career after years of doing completely different work. He seems capable enough (he did over his own house beautifully) but something tells me that giving the job to him is not a wise move. I'm thinking about when the crap hits the fan -- as it always does with major jobs like this -- our friendship is doomed. Scratch him off the list or give it a shot?
posted by terrier319
on Aug 11, 2005 -
14 answers
TenantFilter: So I gave permission for the building manager to let a contractor into my apartment to do some fix up work. Not only does she not let him in personally, which is what I thought I okayed, but she leaves the key to another tenant to pass on to the contractor when he shows up. Am I overreacting in thinking that was way out of line? How do I go about responding to something like this?
[more inside]
posted by ODiV
on Jul 18, 2004 -
10 answers
