Why You Shouldn’t Hire Unlicensed and Uninsured Contractors.
Getting roofing repairs done can be nerve-wracking, especially for first-time homeowners, so, do your due diligence! After all, your home is a significant investment and the risks of hiring an unlicensed and/or uninsured contractor can become a complete nightmare for you. This can lead you to a huge financial loss as the client; and your insurance company may be unable to cover the destruction done to your home due to a botched job. So if you want this done right, you will need to rely on the services of a professional roofing contractor.
You also want to ensure that the person you speak with is the person responsible for doing the job. Some companies subcontract work, so you want to verify the insurance and license of that company as well. Additionally, keep in mind that you are liable if your unlicensed contractor damages city property, such as a power line. As the homeowner you are held accountable if any contractor or subcontractors suffer an injury while working on your property and there is no workers compensation plan in place. This can include covering the employee’s medical expenses and lost wages, and your insurance may not cover these risk.
In short; the last thing anyone wants is to be scammed or bamboozled—So here are a few questions you should be asking to ensure that you are hiring the right contractor for the job.
Do you have your license?
Make sure that the roofing contractor has the necessary license to practice. A valid license means the contractor has the credibility, know how, and expertise to do the job. You can check out this website https://verify.tn.gov, and input the license number and check their status. If a roofing contractor fails to give their license, you might want to think twice before hiring them.
Do you offer a warranty for your roofing work?
This can vary from company to company but you want to ensure you are covered.
Do you have insurance?
Since there is always a risk of injury in any home improvement and repair work, make sure that the contractor has insurance. This will protects both you and them should an accident happen while on your property.
Do you use roofing subcontractors?
You want to make sure that the credentials you check are for the roofing company that will be working on your home. So, make sure to ask the roofing company whether they outsource any of the work and if they do make sure to check the subcontractor’s insurance and the licenses.
To be clear, it is possible to still experience an issue with a contractor even after checking their credentials. If this happens do not hesitate to report them to the “Home Improvement Channel“ https://www.tn.gov/commerce/resources--services/file-a-complaint.html. If a contractor takes payment without completing work or stops being responsive this might be a sign that they’re trying to take advantage and leave you (the customer) high and dry. Never be embarrassed if this happens, since con-artist tend to be good at their job, and it could happen to anyone. The good news is, by reporting and filing a complaint, you can keep them from taking advantage of others, while making it easier for certified contractors to do quality work.
Lastly, make sure to ask your contractor if they themselves will be completing the job you hired them for or if they will be using a subcontractor. Request the same information from the subcontractor as well. Always, and we mean always check the credentials: valid license, insurance, works compensation, and warranty. Also, keep in mind that in our case, we don’t subcontract your work. At A&E, who you hire, is exactly who does the work. Making sure the job gets done right from start to finish. So if you are looking for a dependable contractor, feel free to give us a call.