When searching for the perfect contractor to handle your home improvement project, your first instinct will be to ask a friend to provide you with a reference. While your friends can certainly serve as a great resource for finding a qualified contractor, it is important to remember that you should still look into other options when searching for a contractor. After all, while your friend may have been satisfied with the quality of the work provided by the contractor, there are other things that need to be taken into consideration when hiring a contractor.
Making Sure the Contractor is Licensed
The fact that your friend had success with the contractor does not ensure he is licensed to work in your state. Even if he was licensed at the time he was hired by your friend, he may no longer have a valid license. Therefore, it is important for you to look into this information yourself before hiring a contractor.
Checking on Liability Insurance
If nothing went wrong with the project that the contractor completed for your friend, the need to use liability insurance may not have occurred. Furthermore, your friend may not have even realized that this was something he should look into. To ensure your home is properly protected and that you will be reimbursed if something goes wrong, it is essential to verify liability insurance coverage is in place.
Verifying Workmen’s Compensation Coverage
Just as you will be left holding the financial burden if your property becomes damaged, you will also be held responsible if someone gets injured while working on your property. For this reason, you need to be sure the contractor has workmen’s compensation coverage in place. Again, if no one was injured on your friend’s project, he may not have realized that the contractor didn’t have this protection in place.
Signing the Waiver of Lien
You can further protect yourself by insisting that your contractor sign a waiver of lien. By signing the waiver of lien, your contractor cannot place a lien on your home in an attempt to collect payment. This is particularly important if the contractor hires subcontractors and you make payments to the contractor, as the subcontractors can place a lien on your home if they do not receive payment and if they have not signed this form. If your friend didn’t have these problems, he may not even be aware of this important document.
In short, talking to your friends is a good start, but you should also be sure to use other resources. LocalHelpFinder.com offers a large number of contractors who have been pre-screened and who have a proven reputation in the industry. Why take a chance with hiring a contractor recommended by a friend when you can know exactly what you are getting when you hire a contractor through LocalHelpFinder.com?
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