INDIANAPOLIS (January 13, 2009) ─ The majority of Angie's List members[1] plan to take advantage of deals made possible by the economic downturn by investing more in their homes this year compared to last, according to a nationwide, commissioned poll of members.

More than 50 percent of the members polled say now is a good time to make these investments, whereas only 19 percent say it is a bad time to spend on home improvements.

“The downturn in the economy has created a good situation for consumers who are positioned to spend,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List (http://www.angieslist.com/), the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews. “A lot of great contractors are looking for work, so they’re willing to negotiate and our members are ready for some deals.”

“But there is a downside for consumers,” Hicks warned. “Just as there are good contractors looking for work, there are plenty of fly-by-night or unqualified contractors our there scouting, too. So homeowners need to be extra-cautious and never hire based on price alone.”

More than 60 percent of Angie's List members indicated in the poll that they're planning a home improvement project in 2009, and most of them say they will hire professionals to get the job done. Most also plan to pay for the work outright rather than to finance it.

Members who reported investing on home improvement projects last year said they spent an average of $15,020, with a median amount spent of $7,500. This year, they plan to spend more ─ $23,450 on average, with a median amount of $8,000. 

Of those planning projects in 2009, 61 percent say they will pay cash, while 20 percent say they will pay cash for part and finance part of it.  Just 14 percent plan to get a loan or pay on credit for the entire project.

Planned projects include home additions or remodeling, painting or other aesthetic improvements, repairs and landscaping.

For anyone planning to hire home improvement experts, Angie’s List offers the following tips to hire good contractors and avoid the unqualified ones:

• Avoid door-to-door solicitors and those who only accept cash payments, offer discounts for finding customers or pressure you to make a quick decision.
• Verify the business is licensed to operate in your area.
• Ask the contractor you want to hire for several references from happy customers who’ve had worked completed — and check them. Visit the job sites if possible.
• Never sign a contract containing blank spaces.
• Get at least three different estimates for your job. And get it in writing – documentation is often the best ammunition you have if things go wrong. If you have to pay for it, be sure the fee comes off your final bill if you hire that contractor.  Also, ask for a guarantee on an estimate.  A good contractor will be willing to guarantee their price for 30 days.

If you run into problems:

• Let the contractor know you’re unhappy. Ask him or her to take specific action to remedy the situation.
• Follow up with a letter. Keep records of all written correspondence as well as receipts, canceled checks and credit card statements. If a business requests documents, send a copy, never an original. Keep a log of all conversations, including the date and time of the call, what was said and who you spoke with.
• Report suspected unethical or illegal behavior to the proper authorities

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Angie’s List is where thousands of consumers share their ratings and reviews on local contractors and companies in more than 425 different categories. Currently, more than 750,000 consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them find the right contractor or company for the job they need done. Members have unlimited access to the list via Internet or phone; receive the award-winning Angie’s List magazine, which includes articles on home improvement and maintenance, consumer trends and scam alerts; and they can utilize the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Get more information about Angie’s List at http://www.angieslist.com/ View the latest Angie's List News Releases in our Press Center and read Angie’s blog at http://www.angiehicksblog.com/.