When it’s time to start rebuilding post-hurricane, choosing a contractor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. A good contractor can work quickly and restore your home on time and on budget. A bad contractor can do substandard work, delay the process, and ultimately cost you both money and time.

What to do

• Seek out local resources

• Verify the credentials of any contractor you’re considering

• Get multiple estimates from different contractors

• Check contracts before signing

• Be sure to structure payments

Seek out local resources

You can start looking for a contractor by contacting your local building department for recommendations. Friends and family are your best sources to find reliable contractors and vendors but if you have no leads, you can check with your local county’s planning department to see if there is a contractor registry of area specialists. You may also want to consider restoration companies that work directly with your home insurance by asking your insurance agent for a list of approved contractors or preferred vendors.

Verify the credentials of contractors

Selecting a contractor to oversee your rebuilding is a big decision. Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself when selecting a potential contractor.

Before you begin working with a contractor, look up their business by name on your state’s construction contractors board. Your state board will tell you their license number, if it is active and up to date, and you can also check for any past complaints or violations. All that information should factor into your decision making process.

During negotiations, ask for certificates of insurance, making sure they have liability and workers’ compensation coverage that is adequate (minimum $500k). Ask for past client references and contact them to see how their projects went, and make sure at least some of the references are for projects similar to yours. You can look up online reviews at Google, Yelp, Angi, HomeAdvisor, and local Facebook groups as well. It should go without saying, but be wary of any contractors who suddenly appear at your front door after a disaster unprompted.

We know time is of the essence after a hurricane, so if potential contractors are taking too long to answer your questions or provide you references, move them to the bottom of your potential hires list. But also be wary of anyone rushing you into signing a contract.

Get Multiple Estimates

A good rule of thumb is to get 3 written estimates from experienced contractors. Ask for a detailed scope of work and compare the costs of materials between all estimates, not just the bottom-line price for the job. 

Make sure they’re trained and experienced in flood and hurricane-related cleanup. Ask about their methods of moisture detection, mold assessment and prevention, and removal methods.

Pay close attention to contracts

Once you’ve chosen a contractor to handle your project, carefully review any contracts before signing. Make sure a starting date and completion date are spelled out, along with a payment schedule that corresponds to each stage of the work’s completion. It’s a good idea to not pay more than 30% up front, and check the contract for detailed warranty information. Ensure proper permits are applied for and approved for the build.

Structure your payments

Establish a payment schedule that is tied to completion of stages of the project. You don’t want to get into the position of a contractor that has most of your insurance money but hasn’t completed much of the rebuilding yet. Your state may also have laws that limit the size of the down payment a contractor can request up front. You can hold back final payments until all work passes final inspections. And be sure to keep track of all receipts.