Guides

Straight answers before you hire anyone.

What interior jobs cost around here, which ones need a licensed pro in Illinois, and how to keep an older home safe. New guides every week.

Newest · Senior safety

Aging in Place Home Modifications Checklist, Room by Room

Start with the changes that prevent falls. That means secure handrails on both sides of the stairs, grab bars by the toilet and in and around the tub or shower, and good light on the path you walk at night. Then go room by room through the entry, bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen, and fix what gets in your way.

October 20, 2026 · 7 minute read

Senior safety

Grab Bar Installation: Where to Put Them and What It Costs

Put grab bars next to the toilet and on both the inside and outside of the tub or shower. Use the ADA range as a guide, with the top of the bar 33 to 36 inches above the floor, and anchor every bar into studs or solid backing. Typical local labor for two or three bars runs $125 to $325, with you supplying the bars.

6 minute read

Costs

Kitchen Cabinet Installation Cost in 2026: Chicago Suburbs

In the Chicago suburbs, labor to install kitchen cabinets in a typical 10 by 10 kitchen usually runs $2,200 to $4,800 when you supply the cabinets. Flat pack assembly, taking out the old cabinets, and crown molding push the price toward the top. The cabinets, countertops, and any plumbing are extra.

6 minute read

Licenses and rules

Do I Need a Licensed Electrician in Illinois for a Switch or Light?

It depends on your town, because Illinois has no statewide electrician license. Many Illinois cities and villages license or register electrical contractors, and where yours does, anyone you pay to swap a switch or a light fixture needs that local credential. Low voltage work like a video doorbell on existing doorbell wires usually needs no electrician.

6 minute read

Do I Need a Licensed Plumber in Illinois for a Faucet or Toilet?

Yes, if you are paying someone to do it. Illinois law says plumbing must be done by a licensed plumber, and replacing a faucet or a toilet counts as plumbing. The main exception is you: if you own or rent and live in a single family home, you may do the work yourself, but you may not hire an unlicensed helper.

6 minute read

Hiring a pro

Hiring a Contractor in Illinois: Contracts, Your Rights, Red Flags

In Illinois, a contractor must give you a written contract before starting home repair work over $1,000, and must hand you a pamphlet called Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights. Get every price in writing, never pay the full amount up front, and walk away from anyone who pushes you to sign today.

7 minute read

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