How do I find a good home contractor?
My husband and I recently experienced the not so good side of hiring a contractor. We hired a company to replace the siding on our home. They had insurance, we checked with clients who had previous jobs completed, but when they were “finished” they never came back to fix some of the issues. They left the job undone. There’s still one piece of siding that keeps falling off. Unfortunately, the contractor is unresponsive and likely we will have to pay for another contractor to come fix it.
At the agency, I hear many stories about contractors that were not up to par, or claims were filed that shouldn’t have been, where contractor liability was unclear. Well, I almost want to say good luck in finding a good contractor. Especially after the pandemic, getting repairs or work done on your home is much more difficult than it used to be. It is hard to find materials in stock, and then if you are not doing the work, trying to find a qualified contractor that is available can be a challenge.
Finding a Contractor
I first would ask your family and friends who they have used. However, even if people you know give a contractor a rave review, make sure to do your due diligence. Check out online reviews, and also make sure that the contractor’s expertise is suited to your specific situation. You could also call your local hardware store, as they usually have people that they recommend. If you had damage to your home and filed an insurance claim, I would ask your claims adjuster if they have a list of contractors they would recommend. We also have a list that we recommend. Just because they’re initially responsive, doesn’t mean they will be if something goes wrong.
Doing Due Diligence
Once you get them out to your house, you want to make sure they have insurance, workers comp as well as general liability insurance. Ask to see a certificate of insurance. If your contractor uses sub-contractors, or other third parties to complete part of the job, your main contractors insurance should cover that.
Also, make sure to ask for recent jobs that they have completed, and if you could call to get recommendations. You may have to pay more for these A+ contractors, but in the end it will be way worth it.
Hard to Insure Vehicles (Kia’s & Hyundai’s)
We recently have experienced some issues with insuring Kia’s and Hyundai’s made in certain years. Those that currently have insurance already are fine, but trying to get a new policy may not be possible for certain models. Simply put, many of these cars were not made with an immobilizer, which make them easy to steal. Then social media promoted this, and suddenly many Kia’s and Hyundai’s were being stolen. Kia & Hyundai have begun attempts to fix the problem, but obtaining insurance for these vehicles can still be difficult. This article from CapitalOne Auto Navigator goes into detail on Why Some Hyundai and Kia Models Are So Easy To Steal.
One other tip, for vehicles with a salvage title, some carriers will only cover the vehicle for liability, so if it’s in an accident there would be no coverage for physical damage to the vehicle. Most vehicles do not have a salvage title, but if you are buying a used car, make sure you know what type of title the vehicle has.
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