These days its hard to know who toyou can trust. Insurance companies have been tightening their belt and don’t want to pay out on claims and many contractors are desperate to make a buck because of the condition of the housing market. The best way to make sure that you get enough money to cover the repairs to your home and the repairs get completed properly and that the contractor doesn’t run away with the money or not pay his vendors leaving you with a lein on your property is this.
1. Don’t be pressured into signing a contract immediately.
2. Ask for personal references… and deal with the owner of the company so you know the character of the person in charge and use a local company that you can call a year from now if there is a problem. A lot of “Storm Damage Specialists” operate in multiple states and move their resources to where the work is and there is no guarantee that you would be able to get ahold of someone to come back if you needed them to.
3. Once you find a qualified contractor who is trustworthy, allow them to negotiate the claim with the insurance company to make sure that they pay out enough to make the repair.
4. Ask for lien wavers from material suppliers and subcontractors before releasing the final payment.
5. Make sure you know exactly what you are getting for your money before starting the project.
