HOW TO FIND AN HONEST CONTRACTOR
The Tennessee Valley experiences its fair share of severe weather in the fall and winter months. When Mother Nature strikes your home, you may need to call a professional to help repair damage. Unfortunately, not all professionals are looking out for a homeowner’s best interest. After natural disasters, dishonest contractors try to profit from a community’s misfortune.
You may not be able to stop unexpected damage to your home, but a fly-by-night contractor is one disaster you can prevent. There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure you hire a reputable professional. A great place to start is always our HBAGC member directory, filled with local remodelers and home industry professionals you can trust. Additionally, when evaluating any potential contractor, following these guidelines can help secure your investment, whether for post-disaster repairs or a planned renovation.
Price and payment
• Don’t get pressured into signing a contract
President, Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga immediately. You should not be required to sign a contract that day or risk a price increase.
• Paying a deposit of anywhere from 20 percent to 50 percent is typical; however, you should not be asked to pay the full cost in advance before work begins.
• Make sure you’re comfortable with the payment options. You should not be asked to pay cash to a salesperson instead of a check, money order or credit card.
References
• Confirm that the contractor has a verifiable mailing address for their business.
• Check Tennessee’s Board for Licensing Contractors to ensure the business has no unresolved complaints.
• Ask the contractor to provide references for past work and be sure the references can be contacted.
Barry Payne
• Check out the business on consumer review sites such as HomeAdvisor, Houzz, etc. Remember to take the good with the bad when reading online reviews, as people are much more likely to share a negative experience than a bad one online.
Contract and completion
• Be cautious of anyone who tells you that “a contract won’t be necessary.” Insist on a complete and clearly written contract signed by you and the contractor.
• Ensure the final payment is due once the job is completed to your satisfaction. Find out if any of the work requires city or county inspection, confirm that it is done and that you have paperwork proving it before making the final payment.
Following these guidelines will help you select a contractor who will do quality work and stand behind it. To learn more about finding a dependable contractor with an established business in our community, visit our website at