After a disaster hits close to home, the last thing you need is a dishonest contractor. People can take advantage of you by over charging or charging for fees and services you did not need in the first place.
It is best to employee people you have previously worked with or have references from. An simple way to know what kind of contractor you are hiring is by searching for their reviews online. Websites like
Anglieslist.com and
Yelp.com list several companies with reviews from people just like you.
If you have recently suffered from a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, water damage or fire, call Kipper Insurance first at
(760)471-2200. Depending on your location, Bob and Harriet Kipper of Kipper Insurance can recommend specific contractors they trust and can walk you through the process of turning your home back into a
home.
A few things to watch from your contractor:
* How many supplies are they purchasing?
Conduct research on the job you need performed and observe how many supplies your contractor requires. Occasionally, contractors over purchase supplies and materials in order to sell, after your job has been completed, on the black market. If you educate yourself by looking online, going to Home Depot or asking someone you know on how many supplies are required, you will save yourself from "extra supply" costs.
* Double-check.
Once you have received an estimate from the contractor, call a few other contractors. Get to know what an average estimate is and what a high estimate is by asking contractors from other companies how much they would charge. You never want to go with the first bid, unless you have done your research and called around to other companies.
* Check again.
Ask where your contractors purchase their materials. Can they be purchased somewhere else for less? Is there a sale at Home Depot?
Hiring a contractor does not mean you get off the hook from all of your duties. You still have to work, in order to make sure you don't get scammed. Do your homework and check it twice.