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.
One of the first things you have to do, after gathering your family and getting to a safe place, is making a call to your insurance agent. You should always keep your policies in a safe place and bring them with you if you are displaced. Until you can meet with the adjuster, you have to keep all of your receipts for the expenses you incur. This includes housing, food, and any medical receipts.
Having to flee your home is an emotional experience it takes time to get over. Many homeowners are so anxious to get back into their properties that they make important renovation decisions without adequate thought. Most experts agree that making enough temporary repairs in order to make the house habitable is a better idea, if that is possible. Temporary fixes give homeowners breathing room and time to make big decisions when they are better prepared to do so.
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.
All contractor contracts must include a time frame for the renovations to be finished. There must be complete contractor contact information and an itemized labor and materials cost breakdown. You must not 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.
One of the first things you have to do, after gathering your family and getting to a safe place, is making a call to your insurance agent. You should always keep your policies in a safe place and bring them with you if you are displaced. Until you can meet with the adjuster, you have to keep all of your receipts for the expenses you incur. This includes housing, food, and any medical receipts.
Having to flee your home is an emotional experience it takes time to get over. Many homeowners are so anxious to get back into their properties that they make important renovation decisions without adequate thought. Most experts agree that making enough temporary repairs in order to make the house habitable is a better idea, if that is possible. Temporary fixes give homeowners breathing room and time to make big decisions when they are better prepared to do so.
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.
All contractor contracts must include a time frame for the renovations to be finished. There must be complete contractor contact information and an itemized labor and materials cost breakdown. You must not 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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