Experts say hiring questionable contractors can be risky | Real Time Headlines

Door-to-door maintenance and decoration Very expensive. To keep costs down, one-third of homeowners are willing to hire a contractor with holes in their resume.

About 33% of homeowners surveyed said they would consider hiring a contractor with questionable reputation to save money. according to A new report from housing data website Clever Real Estate.

Generally speaking, homeowners say reputation is the most important factor when hiring a contractor (25%), followed by experience (23%), cost (19%), personal recommendations (13%), availability (11%) and Estimated project timeline (10%). Clever surveyed 1,000 U.S. homeowners in mid-August to learn about their renovation choices.

Experts say the trade-off for contractors could end up being more expensive in the long run. Problematic contractors are “people who are dishonest about their prices, may overestimate their skills, do poor quality work, or simply don’t work on the project,” Smart Reports.

“This is someone you probably want to avoid,” said Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi, an online contractor marketplace. “I’d rather choose someone new to the industry than someone with a reputable reputation.” problem person.”

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Key steps to filing a home insurance claim after a natural disaster
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The risk of contractor fraud also increases After a natural disastersaid Loretta Worters, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute.

“A lot of times these people will pop in, claim they’re going to do something for you, take your money and leave,” Waters said.

Department of Justice and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issue warning to consumers on wednesday About potential fraudprice gouging and collusion after natural disasters.

“You don’t want to make a bad situation worse,” Hicks said.

Here are things to consider when hiring a contractor.

analysts expect Hurricane Milton Maybe it’s a “once-in-a-century event” storm has the potential to cause record-breaking damage because it Login Wednesday or early Thursday on the west coast of Florida.

When the homeowner juggles insurance claim As well as recovering from successive storms, one thing to keep in mind is who to hire as the contractor.

Waters said you “really need to be careful” about contractor fraud because you could be “double-attacked by the storm and the fraudster.”

Roofing is one of the most common trades that must be hired after a hurricane, Hicks said.

“The roof will last more than 20 years,” Hicks said. “You want to make sure you’re working with a reputable local company who will also offer a warranty on the work.”

Experts say that while this is a very difficult time, it’s important to do your due diligence and make sure the people you hire are certified.

Although it may be difficult Evaluate contractorsExperts say there are steps you can take to make sure you’re working with someone reputable.

Here are three ways to get started:

1. Ask for reviews and references

“The first thing you want to do is check (the contractor’s) reputation,” Hicks said.

If possible, start with a professional with good reviews: Ask friends and family members who have had good experiences with contractors in the past for recommendations, Dunaway-Sill says.

From there, look for online reviews and ask for references, experts say. When you start getting an estimate, Hicks says, check references to see how the company or professional has handled work in the past.

Dunaway-Sill says asking a contractor if they’re willing to put you in touch with previous clients can be a litmus test.

“If they’re unwilling to do that, that could be a red flag,” she said. “Maybe they think no one will recommend them positively.”

2. Check their credentials

Hicks says to check the contractor’s qualifications and licensing to see if they have the experience necessary to complete the job.

All professional contractors should be insured and be able to produce certificates proving so, according to National Association of Home Builders. Although not all States require licensingNAHB states that contractors located in states that do require a license should provide a copy.

The FTC and CFPB provide consumers with the following resources: How to avoid scamsprepare for and respond to natural disasters, and how to Handle your finances in such incidents.

“Occasionally, state insurance departments will also list different contractors on their website,” Waters said.

3. Pay attention to warning signs

Early interactions can give you a sense of how a contractor operates and help you decide whether you feel confident in providing them with your business.

“Do they provide you with an estimate in writing? Is it detailed? Are payment options outlined?” Hicks said.

She says it’s important to outline payments for large projects and how they will be handled in your estimate. Typically, a down payment should be no more than 10 or 20 percent; Hicks says you shouldn’t pay a large deposit up front.

It’s also a good idea to get two or three estimates, Hicks says, because it can tell you if there are any outliers in your pricing.

“If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is,” she added.