5 On Your Side
Protect yourself with these 5 tips for hiring a contractor
For those who need to hire a contractor for repairs - after a hurricane or at any other time - 5 On Your Side's Monica Laliberte offers these tips.
Posted — UpdatedBy Monica Laliberte, WRAL.com reporter
After Hurricane Dorian, many in North Carolina are in clean-up mode from tornadoes that ripped through homes, wind damage to roofs and flooding from heavy rain and storm surge.
For those who need to hire a contractor for repairs – after a hurricane or at any other time – 5 On Your Side's Monica Laliberte offers these tips:
1. Get at least three estimates that include everything from repairs to clean-up. And, don't just jump at the lowest price.
2. Call at least three references. Ask about quality, clean-up, communication and whether the job was completed on time and on budget.
3. Make sure the contractor is insured and licensed. In N.C. a license is only required for jobs costing $30,000 or more. While that license doesn't guarantee good work, it does show a certain amount of professionalism and competence.
4. Get the specifics of the job in writing. Be sure to include exactly what will be done, payment schedule and a timetable, including start and completion dates.
5. Never pay too much up front. We recommend no more than 10 percent down, then make follow-up payments as work is done to your satisfaction.
Another tip: don't pay in cash, use a check or a credit card when you can.
A little extra time spent now could help ensure a repair job well done.
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