There's nothing like being on a hurricane watch. I've called the Gulf Coast home for nearly 40 years, and to this day, I'm always in awe over the power of a hurricane. At this writing, I'm tracking Hurricane Ida and, yes, we are in the projected path...at least for now. I've seen hurricanes do some pretty strange things, so I never put a lot of stock in "projected paths" this far out. What can be predicted with great accuracy, unfortunately, is that some of the most unscrupulous people crawl out from under the rocks after a disaster strikes. Don't fall victime twice! Here are a couple of things to keep in mind if you're trying to have repair work done, whether in the aftermath of a storm or not.
- Ask for references. Not just the names of people, but phone numbers and addresses. Call these people. Go by and look at the quality of work. Ask them about the work habits, cleanliness of the job site and communication provided during the scope of work.
- Make sure the contractor is licensed, bonded and has insurance.
- Get a minimum of two estimates from different contractors. Three would be even better.
- Is the only number they provide a cell phone? Not a good sign. Look for an established business, not one that operates out of a pickup truck.
- Never pay cash.
- Make sure you have a written contract that spells out clearly and concisely the scope of work to be done.
- Come to an agreed-upon payment schedule. You should never pay the entire amount "up front." Chances are good you'll never see your money again, nor any quality work in exchange.
- If the contractor asks you to get the required permits, you don't want to do business with him/her.
These aren't the only criteria, but it's a good start. Some business savvy on your part helps keep the con artists at bay. One other word of advice, most municipalities have a Home Builder's Association of some sort. Start there. Members of an HBA should have the necessary licenses and insurance and aren't going to be fly-by-night operations.
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