FRED Home Improvement
Bethesda, MD 20816 301-560-3733
Ratings
Consumer Ratings for FRED Home Improvement — 10 Ratings
You won't find anything else like Checkbook
- Nonprofit and independent
- Takes no advertising or referral fees
- Ratings and reviews by surveyed Consumers' Checkbook and Consumer Reports local subscribers
- Thousands of undercover price comparisons
- Complaint histories from consumer agencies
Contractors: Remodelers & General Articles
Thinking About a Home Remodel? Here’s Where to Start
Begin by carefully considering what you think you want and how you can get it. Weigh your wish list against what you’ll probably pay to fulfill it.
Planning a Home Remodel
If you’re adding new rooms, making substantial changes to the existing floor plan, or dealing with complex structural or functional questions, you’ll need to hire professional design help. There are several design options and combinations of options.
How to Check Out Contractors
Some homeowners leave contractor vetting and selection to their architects or house designers, but most make the call themselves, and rightly so: It’s the most important step.
Getting Prices and Proposals for Remodeling Work
Checkbook’s undercover shoppers asked contractors to bid on three different projects. Company-to-company price differences were striking. For the largest of the jobs, quotes ranged from $190,000 to $321,000—a difference of more than $130,000.
What a Contract for Remodeling Work Should Include
Once you’ve picked a contractor, have it prepare a written contract. It should include the following information for medium-sized and major projects; but even if your project is small, many of these points also apply.
Your Role During a Remodel
You can do a lot to help the job run smoothly, finish on time, and produce the best possible results.
Should You Buy Products Yourself for a Remodel?
You can use our advice and price ratings to pay less—often a lot less—for appliances, fixtures, flooring, plantings, and many other products that you can buy on your own, rather than having your contractor buy them for you. But should you?
Financing Options for Remodeling Work
You have several options to pay for your project. Cash certainly is the easiest: no applications, no forms, no appraisals, no debt, no interest. However, many homeowners borrow to cover large remodeling jobs.
More Articles »
Related Content
- Light Remodeling: Redo Your Kitchen or Bath for Less
- Home Improvement Financing: Watch Out for Shady Deals
- Handyman Services
- Home Builders
- Architects
- Carpenters
- Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors
- Roofers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Window Installers & Repair
- Door Installers
- Garage Door Installers
- Fence Builders
- Furniture Stores
- Interior Designers
- Cabinet Suppliers & Installers
- Countertop Suppliers & Installers
- Flooring Suppliers & Installers
- Carpet Stores & Installers
- Masons
- Rock & Cement Contractors
- Saving Energy at Home
- Home Warranties
Consumer Comments for FRED Home Improvement
Jan 05, 2026
Feb 06, 2025
May 21, 2023
...and 7 more consumer comments for FRED Home Improvement