Hiring a Contractor

Hiring a Contractor

Being in the unfortunate situation of having to hire a fire contractor is not something anyone looks forward to. And once you are in this situation, you might begin to realize how little you know about exactly what to look for in a Seattle fire damage restoration contractor, good and bad. Below you will find some helpful tips and guidelines to keep in mind to help you make an informed decision when hiring a fire damage restoration contractor in the Seattle area.

#1: Experience is Key

Ask you potential contractor what kind of experience they have. Do they deal specifically with fire damage restoration, or is that just a small part of their business? Most fire contractors will also deal with water damage restoration as well, which also might be necessary considering the amount of water used to extinguish the flames. The best contractors have been in the field many, many years, and know all the ins and outs of the insurance companies and how to deal with all kinds of people. Hiring a Seattle fire damage contractor with quantity and quality experience will make your repair the best it can be.

#2: Know Who You Will Be Dealing With

Many times when you call for an estimate to get the ball rolling, the person you meet initially and the person who will actually be doing the work on your house are two different people. This is not always a bad thing, but if you never get a chance to meet the person you will be working with for the duration of your repair, you won’t know if you can get along with them, and then you will be stuck with them! Ideally, meeting up front the person who will be doing all the work can help you determine if you will be able to work well with this person before you actually hire them. This is most easily achieved by working with a smaller fire damage contractor, where the owner of the business might even be the man who you will be working with to restore your home from start to finish.

#3: Ask if the Contractor is Bonded/Licensed

This should go without saying, but many people don’t realize that just as a doctor or a lawyer must meet certain qualifications and have certain credentials, so to a contractor must meet certain requirements. For a contractor, these requirements are being bonded and licensed. Being bonded means that the contractor has an arrangement with an insurance company or bank whereby if the work if not completed satisfactorily, you will be compensated. Being licensed is necessary to work as a contractor on jobs over a certain size. Asking these crucial questions will ensure you are not left holding the bag, wondering how the rest of your house will ever be finished.

#4: Ask How the Contractor is Paid

Knowing how the contractor will be paid for the work is another important aspect of hiring the right fire insurance contractor. Many fire contractors will have an arrangement such that they are paid directly from the insurance company, with no money passing through your hands. While this might seem like not a big deal, the danger here is the contractor just taking his check when he says the work is done, even if you are not completely satisfied. The best fire damage restoration contractors will only take their payment from the client. This is not to say that you are paying out of pocket for their services, but rather, you have a say over exactly where all the insurance money is going and when the contractor gets paid. Keeping this critical facet in mind will help you determine who is the best man for the job.

#5: Let the Contractor Do His Job

This is not so much a tip about hiring a contractor, but about working well with the fire contractor once you have hired him. Recognize that the contractor does have the experience and does know what he is doing. If you have opinions of how the work should be done, respectfully voice them, but don’t expect that the contractor is obligated to follow everything you suggest. There is a lot more to the process than most people realize, and just getting your hands on the insurance money is not the end of the story. The best fire contractor will make sure your interests are kept in mind while doing his best to complete the work efficiently and effectively.

Paradise Construction, Inc. is a small, local fire damage restoration company in the Seattle area that will meet and exceed all of your expectations. Visit the Contact Us page to schedule your preliminary estimate today.