Home Repairs: How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off by Home Repair Contractors
by: Atlanta Legal Aid Society Seniors Hotline
Home Repairs: How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off by Home Repair Contractors
William Brennan Atlanta Legal Aid Society 5/24/02
My house needs to be repaired, but I have heard many horror stories. How can I avoid problems?
Home repair disputes can be difficult to resolve. It is far better to do some work on the front end to avoid problems down the road. The following are some tips you can use if you are concerned about making these decisions:
Be sure your contractor is reputable - know who you are hiring. Do not hire people who ring your doorbell and tell you your roof needs repair or your gutters need fixing. Get the names of at least 3 references for your contractor and call them. Find out how long the job took them and the quality of the work.
Don't use contractors who offer to do the job using material left over from another job.
Don't use a contractor who tries to pressure you into making a decision.
Find out what kind of insurance they have. Hire people who have a current certificate of insurance.
Never pay a large sum up front. Instead, negotiate a time table and payment schedule where you will pay the contractor as work is completed.
Get it in writing - insist on a contract that specifies the work to be done, the time it will be completed, the materials to be used, the names of any subcontractors and the schedule of payments.
Get the subcontractors to waive their right to put a lien on your home if the contractor doesn't pay them.
If you are 60 years old or older and have questions or concerns, call the toll-free Georgia Senior Legal Hotline and talk with an attorney at (888) 257-9519. Our program offers no cost legal advice to Georgia's Seniors.
Otherwise call Atlanta Legal Aid Society or Georgia Legal Services Program to see if you qualify for free legal help.
Last Reviewed On: 05/30/02
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Copyright and Use Notice
This material is copyrighted by the authoring organization or individual. Legal information can change rapidly. Provided links are kept updated, permission is given to link to this material from a nonprofit, court or government website. Website material may be printed, copied and distributed only in its original format for non-commercial, informational purposes. The material may not be altered from its original format. Reproducing the material to promote a commercial purpose is expressly prohibited. Commercial enterprises are expressly forbidden from linking to our material or using our material in other ways. Legal Aid and GLSP are not liable for the distribution of out-of-date material or links. To inquire about appropriate use of this material, please contact 404-524-5811.
Information Not Legal Advice
LegalAid-GA.org provides general information only. This is not legal advice and cannot replace legal advice. You can get legal advice only from a lawyer. Deadlines are extremely important in most legal matters. You may lose important legal rights if you do not hire an attorney immediately to advise you. Viewing this web site or sending an e-mail message through this web site does NOT create an attorney-client relationship.
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