Guide + planner
The Flooring Project Playbook
Plan, budget and hire for new floors without surprises: choose the right floor for every room, measure, compare quotes line by line and get your home ready.
$29
Insider guide + project toolkit
20 Years of Contractor Secrets
More than 20 years of construction and remodeling, from the contractor’s side of the table. How contractors really work and price, how to find a good one and spot the wrong one, what belongs in the contract, how to pay without risk, and how to get the best work and the best schedule from the people you hire.
$39
- Instant download after payment, also emailed to you
- 2 files: PDF + Excel
- Secure card payment by Stripe; sales tax added where it applies
- Price refunded in full when you hire us
What’s inside
- How contractors really work: estimates, schedules, crews and subcontractors, and what a good contractor worries about
- How a price is built, why the lowest bid is often missing something, and how to compare bids line by line
- Finding and vetting: registration, bonds, insurance, reviews, references and the red flags that should end the conversation
- The contract and the paperwork: what must be in writing, allowances, change orders, hidden damage, warranties
- Money: deposits, progress payments, lien releases, retainage and how to never pay twice for the same work
- Scheduling, living through the job, and the habits that make contractors give you their best
- When things go wrong: documenting, giving notice, the contractor’s bond, and your options
- Homeowner Project Toolkit spreadsheet and printables: vetting scorecard, bid comparison, payment and lien release log, change orders, punch list
You get 2 files
- The Guide (PDF)PDF, 32 pages
- Homeowner Project Toolkit (Excel and Google Sheets)Excel, 8 tabs
When you’re done, you’ll be able to
- Hire the right contractor for the right reasons, and recognize the wrong one early
- Compare bids that are written differently and see what each one leaves out
- Sign a contract and a payment schedule that protect you without scaring off good contractors
- Keep the project on track, and know exactly what to do if it isn’t
A look inside
Made for
- Homeowners hiring for any project: floors, kitchens, baths, roofs, decks, additions
- First-time buyers facing their first renovation
- Anyone who has been burned by a contractor before
Not the right fit for
- Legal advice for a dispute that is already in court: talk to an attorney
- Contractors looking for business systems (see the Flooring Contractor Business Kit)
Who wrote it
Vision Flooring, Everett, Washington
Written by the team behind Vision Flooring LLC, led by owner Alex Babko: 20+ years of experience and 3,800+ clients. Hardwood refinishing and installation, LVP, laminate and repairs after water damage are what we do every week; these guides put that experience in writing.
About Vision Flooring · Washington contractor #VISIOFL937R6
Questions
Is this only about flooring?
No. It covers hiring and working with any contractor. The examples come from more than 20 years of construction and remodeling: kitchens, bathrooms, water damage and whole-home remodels, and now floors.
Is it written for Washington?
It works anywhere in the US. Washington rules (contractor registration, bonds, the disclosure statement and liens) are used as examples, with notes on what to check in your own state.
How is it different from the Flooring Project Playbook?
The Playbook plans a flooring project from choosing floors to installation day. This guide is about the contractor side of any project: pricing, contracts, money, schedules and what to do when things go wrong.
How do I get my files?
Right after payment you land on your download page, and the same link is emailed to you. The link doesn’t expire, so you can download again on another device later.
Can I print it?
Yes. The guides are letter-size PDFs made to read on a screen or print at home, and the worksheets are designed to be printed and written on.
Can I get a refund?
Hire Vision Flooring for work in your home and we refund what you paid for the guide in full. Just mention your order number. Otherwise sales are final, because the files are delivered instantly. If a file won’t open or download, contact us and we’ll fix it.
Can I share it?
It’s licensed for your own home or business. Please send friends here instead of forwarding the files. Details in the terms of sale.
20 Years of Contractor Secrets
What contractors know and homeowners don’t: how prices are built, reading bids, contracts, deposits, liens, change orders, schedules and what to do when a job goes wrong.
$39
- Instant download after payment, also emailed to you
- 2 files: PDF + Excel
- Secure card payment by Stripe; sales tax added where it applies
- Price refunded in full when you hire us
You may also like
Action plan + claim tracker
Water Damage Floor Rescue Kit
A leak just hit your floors? Hour-by-hour steps, what to photograph for insurance, save-or-replace answers for every floor type and a tracker for the claim.
$19