Hiring a pro for your home: 7 red flags and 5 questions to ask

7 red flags

1. Cash only, and no paperwork. Without a receipt you have no proof if something goes wrong. Pay in a way that leaves a record, and get a written receipt.
2. They knocked on your door after a storm. Storm chasers show up fast, take a deposit and disappear. Choose a pro yourself and look them up.
3. No license number for a job that needs one. Electrical, plumbing, gas and structural work need a licensed pro in many places. Ask for the number and check it.
4. A big deposit up front. A small deposit for materials is normal. Paying most of the price before the work starts is not.
5. “We don’t need a permit.” Electrical, plumbing, roofing and AC jobs often need one. Work done without a permit can cause trouble with your insurance and when you sell the house.
6. Pressure to decide today. “This price is only good today” is a sales trick, not a deal. Get two or three written quotes and take your time.
7. No written contract. A handshake won’t help you in a dispute.

5 questions to ask before you sign

1. “Do you need a license for this job, and what’s the number?” Then check it with the agency that issues it. It takes a few minutes.
2. “Can I see your proof of insurance?” If someone gets hurt or something breaks, insurance protects you. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s advice works anywhere: consider only pros who are licensed and insured.
3. “Who gets the permit?” It should be the pro. In many places, whoever pulls the permit is the one responsible for the work.
4. “How much do you need up front, and when do I pay the rest?” Pay in stages, as the work gets done, and never the full amount before the job starts.
5. “Can I get that in writing?” The contract should list the work, the materials, the price, the start and end dates and the warranty, plus the pro’s full name, address, phone and license number.

The last payment

• Walk through the job first. Test what was fixed or installed before you pay the rest.
• Ask for the paperwork: the warranty, the receipts for materials and the final permit inspection, if there was a permit.
• Make sure everyone was paid. In some places, a supplier or helper who wasn’t paid can make a claim against your home even after you paid the pro. On bigger jobs, ask for written proof that they were paid.

Sources

1. U.S. Federal Trade Commission: how to avoid a home improvement scam

This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules change, so check the sources and ask a licensed pro about your home.