Don't Get Scammed 09162021

6 After a disaster, sales people often go from door-to-door canvassing neighborhoods to generate new business, offering their cleanup and repair services While many of these people are honest and reputable, some are not Below is a recommended list of steps to take, in order to protect yourself, as a homeowner from unscrupulous operators posing as legitimate contractors: • Call the insurance adjuster assigned to your property damage claim and ask the adjuster to make an estimate of the damage and the probable cost to repair This will provide you with a benchmark estimate prepared by a professional that you can use when negotiating with contractors • Check all references when considering a contractor, especially if the contractor comes to your door and offers to do repairs Inquire about the contractor’s professional reputation by talking with banks, building material suppliers, the contractor’s previous customers, the Homebuilder’s Association, and the Better Business Bureau Also, be sure to use only reliable, licensed contractors Contact the CSLB to verify all licenses • Don’t be rushed into signing a contract with a contractor It is a good practice to collect many business cards, interview several contractors, and request multiple bids for comparison Make sure to read the fine print on all estimates and contracts • Beware of building contractors that encourage you to spend a lot of money on temporary repairs While payments for reasonable temporary repairs are covered as part of the total insurance claim settlement, you don’t want to pay a contractor too large a sum for temporary repairs, since this may deplete the total amount of money you will need for the permanent repairs to be completed Hiring a Contractor