Protect your home

Take simple steps to protect your home from misleading companies by asking some simple questions

When you hire any contractor to do work on your home using construction materials of any kind, be sure to check his background first NO MATTER WHO HE IS. Even though you pay your contractor for work performed, if he does not pay for the materials he used, his supplier can file a lien against your property. Take a look at the following tips BEFORE you sign any agreements or hire work to be done.

  1. ASK for an estimate in WRITING before the work is started.
  2. ASK for a Certificate of Insurance. Call and make sure it is valid and in-force. Be suspect of photo-copies of those papers.
  3. ASK to see the contractor's license to make sure that the license is valid and if they have Workers Compensation Insurance. A nasty accident could make you liable for a lawsuit without proper insurance. Check with the Contractors State License Board at www.cslb.ca.gov.
  4. ASK how long the company has been in business with the same license number. Lower license numbers mean older businesses.
  5. ASK how long the job will take. Re-roofing jobs on residential roofs generally take 2-4 days. If a contractor asks for advance additional payments there could be a problem. Reputable contractors have established credit and do not need "draws" to pay for materials.
  6. ASK to see that the materials used are the materials specified in your contract.
  7. ASK to make out your payment check jointly to the contractor AND THE SUPPLIER OF HIS MATERIALS. This is your insurance to see that the materials are paid for.