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BBB: Home sweet home improvement tips for National Homeownership Month | business

June is National Home Ownership Month. If you’re a home owner, at some point you’re probably going to have some kind of home improvement project that you’re not going to be able to do by yourself.

“Choosing the wrong contractor can make the difference between a successful home renovation and a disaster,” said Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB Central East Texas. “So do your research, get several bids, and pay in installments to make sure you choose the right one.”

BBB provides the following guidelines on selecting a trusted home improvement service.

Solicit at least three bids

Tips on hiring contractors for home improvement projects
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Tips on hiring contractors for home improvement projects

Before reaching out to any contractor for an estimate, the Better Business Bureau of Washington recommends you do a few things first.

SEATTLE — With warm temperatures in the forecast, homeowners may be ready to start home improvement projects. Some larger projects may require hiring a contractor to get the job done. The Better Business Bureau of Washington is sharing reminders for consumers to avoid falling for contractor scams.

Before reaching out to any contractor for an estimate, it’s recommended you do a few things first.

“You should look to plan your project from start to finish,” said Logan Hickle,

Unique & Charming Antique Work Bench Treasure
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Unique & Charming Antique Work Bench Treasure

When I was growing up, I can remember my dad and grandpa working out in their workshops all the time. In the workshop my dad had, there was a rustic old wooden bench with lots of patina from over the years and I loved sitting on top of the bench to ‘help’ work on projects. My dad would give me scrap wood to cut with a hand saw, pound nails in and ‘build’ something fabulous while he worked on projects. I learned how to use tools early and watched how my dad built things and no doubt that helped me

Home Improvements and Your Taxes
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Home Improvements and Your Taxes

Man and woman homeowners measure wood to cut for their home improvement project.

Certain energy-saving home improvements can yield tax credits at the time you make them.

Home improvements and taxes

When you make a home improvement, such as installing central air conditioning or replacing the roof, you can’t deduct the cost in the year you spend the money. But, if you keep track of those expenses, they can help you reduce your taxes in the year you sell your house.

Improvements versus repairs

Money you spend on your home breaks down into two categories, tax-wise: the cost of improvements versus the cost of repairs.

Capital improvements

You add the cost of capital

Beach Weekend View – French Country Cottage
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Beach Weekend View – French Country Cottage

Welcome to the Weekend View- this week, the view looked like sand and surf, family and fun.

Beach Getaways

My husband and I decided to take off for a few days this week for a little getaway. We were planning a bigger trip but pushed it back a bit for now. We have a family reunion at our house coming up quickly and lots of storm damage that hasn’t been cleaned up yet. So, we took a quick trip over to Capitola beach and stayed a couple of days for a staycation get away.

Capitola is such a beautiful beach

Manchester couple paid for home improvement jobs, didn’t do work
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Manchester couple paid for home improvement jobs, didn’t do work

MANCHESTER — A local couple who ran a contracting business have been accused of taking payments for jobs and not returning to do the work, show court documents.

According to court documents, Manchester residents Jason and Kathleen Lapointe took thousands of dollars from residents in Coventry, South Windsor and Vernon for jobs they never started.

Records show Jason Lapointe has been charged with two counts of second-degree larceny and violation of a home improvement contract, while Kathleen Lapointe has also been charged with second-degree larceny as well as violation of a home improvement contract and failure to refund a job