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.
The first thing you need to do, after making sure everyone is safe and accounted for, is to call your insurance company. You should have a copy of your insurance policies in with the important documents you brought with you. Until an adjuster can get to you, you need to keep every receipt for expenses incurred during this time. That includes receipts for food, housing, and any medical expenses.
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.
When you are ready to make major repairs, you need to get several estimates instead of going with the first one you receive. You need to check references that are at least a year old and contact the licensing board to make sure the contractors you are talking to have all the licenses and certifications required by the state in which the property is located. If you have a home that was built before 1978, you will need a contractor that is certified to conduct lead based paint renovations.
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 should not allow any work to be done without a written contract. This contract has to include everything you and the contractor have agreed to. You can not trust oral agreements.
The written contract should include the time frame for the work to be completed, It should have a materials and labor cost breakdown, and all of the contractor's contact information. You should never 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.
The first thing you need to do, after making sure everyone is safe and accounted for, is to call your insurance company. You should have a copy of your insurance policies in with the important documents you brought with you. Until an adjuster can get to you, you need to keep every receipt for expenses incurred during this time. That includes receipts for food, housing, and any medical expenses.
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.
When you are ready to make major repairs, you need to get several estimates instead of going with the first one you receive. You need to check references that are at least a year old and contact the licensing board to make sure the contractors you are talking to have all the licenses and certifications required by the state in which the property is located. If you have a home that was built before 1978, you will need a contractor that is certified to conduct lead based paint renovations.
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 should not allow any work to be done without a written contract. This contract has to include everything you and the contractor have agreed to. You can not trust oral agreements.
The written contract should include the time frame for the work to be completed, It should have a materials and labor cost breakdown, and all of the contractor's contact information. You should never 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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