Homeowner guides

Practical, local advice for Western New York homes: what jobs cost, what to do before each season, and how to hire well.

• ChecklistSix things to get before you sign with a contractorA written contract, three days to cancel, a safe deposit and the right license: what to get before any home improvement job in WNY.
• Seasonal · RoofingStop ice dams before they startHow ice dams form on Western New York roofs, and the cheap fall steps that stop them before the first big snow.