If Hurricane Michael has left you in need of repairs, it’s
important to do your homework to ensure you aren’t a victim of fraud.
Before you hire a contractor, make sure they’re licensed by
the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board. Jobs costing more than $10,000
require a contractor be licensed. Any roofing job exceeding $2,500 requires a
roofer to hold a residential roofing license. You can perform a licensee search
at http://hblb.alabama.gov.
In addition to making sure a contractor is licensed, get
references. Ask former clients if they were pleased with the work and if it was
completed on schedule. Find out if the project incurred any unexpected costs and
if the client would hire this person again.
It’s worth asking friends and family for referrals if
they’ve had work done by someone who completed the job in a timely and
professional manner.
Before choosing a contractor, always get multiple bids on a
project.
Have detailed conversations with your contractor about what
you want, what the costs will be, how to resolve any unexpected issues that may
arise during the project and what the timeline is for completing the
work.
Don’t sign a contract until you understand the terms. Ask
questions and take the necessary time to make sure you know what you’re
signing.
Always ask a contractor for proof of insurance.
Finally, don’t pay in full up front. Work out a payment
schedule and don’t make the final payment until the work is completed to your
satisfaction.