Its finally time to find a contractor to fix that problem that has been nagging you for months, or even years. But before you do so, some basic steps can help prevent, or lessen, headaches if something goes wrong.
1
Get Multiple Bids Before Hiring
Unless you are dealing with an emergency repair, it is a good practice to obtain several bids from different contractors before actually hiring one to do the work. You should look at two things when you get the bid: 1) what work is the contractor proposing to do to fix my problem?; and 2) how much is that work going to cost?
2
Require All Bids to Be in Writing
Sometimes a contractor will come to your house and evaluate your problem and tell you it will be "X dollars" for the repair. Even if he or she seems like the most trustworthy person in the world, get the proposal in writing. Never hire a contractor without a written proposal.
3
Make Sure that Basic Terms are Contained Within The Written Bid/Proposal
At the very least, the proposal should have the following terms and conditions: 1) total price; 2) specific description of work to be performed; and 3) time within which the work will be completed (if more than 1 day). Also, if there is a warranty on the work, make sure that it is in writing.
4
Verify that the Contractor is Licensed and Insured
After you have gathered your bids, do some quick checking into the status of each contractor's insurance and license. Most contractor's will have their information right on their proposals or contracts. Just because you see a "License Number" on a document does not mean that the contractor is licensed in your jurisdiction. For example, contractors doing home improvement work in New York City must be licensed by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. Similarly, contractors doing work in Nassau County must be licensed by Nassau County Consumer Affairs and contractors doing work in Suffolk County must be licensed by Suffolk County Consumer Affairs. It does not matter where the contractor is based, it must be licensed in the country or other jurisdiction that the work is being done in.
5
Contact Your Local Department of Consumer Affairs and Inquire About Complaints
Most Consumer Affairs offices maintain lists of "deadbeat" contractors. If you call in with the name of your contractor, they will check the name against their list and let you know if the contractor has a negative history with them.
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