Selecting a contractor for your home: What you should look for.
After moving in their new home, Mr. and Ms. Walker were eager to get to work. Of the myriad of projects, building a fence was their upmost priority. Phone call after phone call they became discourage at the rather large estimates they were receiving, until the final call. This contractor was providing their services for ½ the price and ½ the time. The offer was a bargain….or was it?
Upon arrival, the contractors requested a $1000 deposit and then left to retrieve the materials. But they never came back. Despite phone call after phone call, the Walkers were back at square one, and $1000 stolen.
It is a story told too often. An innocent family thinking the offer is a steal, and it really is.
For anyone looking for general or specialized contractor help, it is important to do your research and take the extra steps to ensure your safety.
The following includes the five items one should look for prior to hiring a contractor:
- Get background checks: It is important to establish the minimum credentials. When researching contractors look for the following:
- Full company name
- Address
- Current State License
- Insurance coverage (typically this means at least a million dollars in liability and worker’s compensation coverage)
- Research complaints, reviews or legal actions.
- Investigate the contractors work history: And the research continues…some contractors are specialists while others are general, therefore it is important to hire someone specialized to your project.Ask to see other work they have completed, do they answer your calls in a timely manner, and do they appear and act professional (ie Dress code, documents and paperwork)? All of these little details will reflect the final job.
- Licensed Contractor: While we briefly touched on this point, due to the significance of the topic, it is worth shedding more light. The state of Florida requires both residential and commercial contractors to be licensed. You can confirm the license is legitimate by visiting www.myfloridalicense.com. Select the “Verify a License” button and then search by license number or contractor name. By choosing a licensed contractor, you are safe from any losses that could occur based on of violations of the contract.
- Insured Contractor: A licensed and insured contractor are two different things, and it is important to research both. If a worker is injured in your home and the company does not have workers compensation, you might be responsible for their lost wages and medical costs. Renovations on a home are expensive enough, do not take this risk! Ask to see the contractor’s insurance certificate to ensure your protection.
- Read the Contract: Most often times than not, we fail to read the minute details in our contracts. It is important to look for the key components within a contract:
- Start and Finish Dates
- Applicable building permits and fees
- Description of the products and services provided
- Consequences of default by either party
Price should not be the key indicator for your remodeling and building decision. It is important to do your research first, and then make a sound decision.
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The Pettineo Insurance agency in Lauderdale by the Sea provides general liability, worker’s compensation and contractor insurance. Whether you own a roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, painting, or other contracting company, Pettineo Insurance Agency Inc. has insurance solutions that can be tailored to provide full protection for your operation. To learn more visit http://pettineoinsurance.com/contractor_insurance.html
