Floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and even devastating fires can happen to anybody. If you have been the victim of one of these events, you know that there are a lot of great individuals willing to go out of their way, and sometimes risk their lives, to help you. There are also plenty of unscrupulous individuals just waiting to take advantage of the crisis. The Better Business Bureau, and government agencies, warn victims to be very careful when hiring a service advertising natural disaster repair.
The first thing you need to do, after making sure everyone is safe and accounted for, is to call your insurance company. You should have a copy of your insurance policies in with the important documents you brought with you. Until an adjuster can get to you, you need to keep every receipt for expenses incurred during this time. That includes receipts for food, housing, and any medical expenses.
Being displaced in the middle of a disaster is an emotional experience. It is tempting to make hasty decisions just so you can get a feeling of normalcy back. Families are particularly vulnerable at this time. The experts suggest that you okay some temporary repair work, if possible, in order to return to your property. This removes the pressure of having to make big decisions that will affect you and your family for a long time.
Once you are ready to undertake major renovations, you should get at least three estimates instead of approving the first contractor who submits a bid. References a year old or more definitely need to be checked. You can contact the state licensing board to see if the contractors you are considering have all the necessary certifications and licenses the state requires. If your house was constructed prior to 1978, you must find a contractor legally certified to make lead based paint restorations.
Unfortunately there are unscrupulous individuals who show up in times like these offering repair services that seem too good to be true. You should avoid agreeing to let these individuals do any work for you without investigating their credentials. Sometimes these strangers will try to coerce homeowners into letting them do renovations by telling them their homes are structurally unsound. It takes an engineer or architect to determine the stability of your home.
You have to insist on a written contract before any work is begun. The contract must include all the terms of the agreement between you and the contractor. You can't depend on any oral agreements.
The written contract should include the time frame for the work to be completed, It should have a materials and labor cost breakdown, and all of the contractor's contact information. You should never sign a blank contract.
You will need a copy of the contract for your records. Never pay in full for contractor work, or pay in cash. You should not pay more than thirty percent as a deposit.
The first thing you need to do, after making sure everyone is safe and accounted for, is to call your insurance company. You should have a copy of your insurance policies in with the important documents you brought with you. Until an adjuster can get to you, you need to keep every receipt for expenses incurred during this time. That includes receipts for food, housing, and any medical expenses.
Being displaced in the middle of a disaster is an emotional experience. It is tempting to make hasty decisions just so you can get a feeling of normalcy back. Families are particularly vulnerable at this time. The experts suggest that you okay some temporary repair work, if possible, in order to return to your property. This removes the pressure of having to make big decisions that will affect you and your family for a long time.
Once you are ready to undertake major renovations, you should get at least three estimates instead of approving the first contractor who submits a bid. References a year old or more definitely need to be checked. You can contact the state licensing board to see if the contractors you are considering have all the necessary certifications and licenses the state requires. If your house was constructed prior to 1978, you must find a contractor legally certified to make lead based paint restorations.
Unfortunately there are unscrupulous individuals who show up in times like these offering repair services that seem too good to be true. You should avoid agreeing to let these individuals do any work for you without investigating their credentials. Sometimes these strangers will try to coerce homeowners into letting them do renovations by telling them their homes are structurally unsound. It takes an engineer or architect to determine the stability of your home.
You have to insist on a written contract before any work is begun. The contract must include all the terms of the agreement between you and the contractor. You can't depend on any oral agreements.
The written contract should include the time frame for the work to be completed, It should have a materials and labor cost breakdown, and all of the contractor's contact information. You should never sign a blank contract.
You will need a copy of the contract for your records. Never pay in full for contractor work, or pay in cash. You should not pay more than thirty percent as a deposit.
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