Hiring the right kind of contractor = a licensed contractor!

After a storm or disaster to just a normal day, make sure you are getting your money’s worth with a contractor!

With the recent storm hitting the northeast, many citizens are experiencing unlicensed contractors at their front door. CBS News did a story on it this topic Friday morning, view the story http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49626224

Let’s say you have some trees that recently came down after a heavy storm. Now you will need someone or a company to come out to your house to cut and haul the trees away.

A good recommendation is to open the phone book or search online. Be aware of the unlicensed contractors!

Now let’s say an unlicensed contractor has approached you, could have been by flyer or door to door.
They will probably be offering you a cheaper deal than a licensed/insured contractor so this should be your first red flag. If that didn’t stop you yet then ask for a few references from previous jobs (You should do this for any contractor even licensed if you’re thinking about using). This way you can see how well of a job they did plus get feedback from a previous customer. No one wants to pay for a job that was only half completed or not completed they way they specified. Another big issue with unlicensed contractors is the affect it can have with your insurance company – The insurance company is putting money into your hands (the homeowners) that will go towards rebuilding which could lead to worse problems if something went wrong. If something happens that could mean your insurance company may not cover the damages that were done by the unlicensed contractor or individual.

You can also go to HomeAdvisor.com to get more information about a particular contractor. In Texas, you can contact the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations if you have any questions or concerns after being approached by an unlicensed contractor. It is always smart to check out your options before selecting the first one that comes along.

Check out this story in Austin, Texas where state investigators went undercover to catch unlicensed contractors, click here! (great information!)

In 2011, many Texas residents had unlicensed electricians and air conditioning contractors contact them after the fire in Bastrop.



Here are some quick tips to keep in mind:
- don’t take the cheapest contractor because it sounds great
- Be cautious of Door-to-Door workers
- don’t pay up front before the work
- Make sure you get multiple quotes  and ask for references
- always asks to see their licenses/permits


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