Expert advice for hiring contractor after storms

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Ahead of a storm it’s important to have a list of go to contractors that you know you can trust to keep you from being price gouged or scammed. Get recommendations and references now so you don’t just hire the first available in an emergency.

A legit company should be able to provide the following:
-LOCAL REFERENCES AND TESTIMONIALS
-BUSINESS LICENSE AND CREDENTIALS
-WORKERS COMPENSATION AND  GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE
-WRITTEN MANUFACTURER AND LABOR WARRANTIES

We’re all busy people, so if you can’t vet a company ahead of time here are some precautions to take if you do need repairs after the storm.

Be careful of any company that uses door to door sales or leaves a flier promising “insurance compensation” for repairs.

Talk to your insurance company to find out how to proceed and keep receipts for any repairs.
Don’t be rushed into signing a contract either. You want to get at least three written estimates from different contractors.

And always check for any complaints against them with the Better Business Bureau or the AG’s office

Understand your payment options and right to cancel.

Here are some helpful resources:

Attorney General’s PRICE GOUGING HOTLINE 1-866 9 NO SCAM

Better Business Bureau  http://www.bbb.org/west-florida/