There will also be lots of people who come to the very same areas with one goal: ripping people off.
There are some red flags to look out for when looking for people to repair your home:
• Be wary of people who show up and solicit work, especially if they're from out of town.
• Take your time getting quotes from more than one contractor. And do your homework on each before choosing them. Contractors should have a history of work they can tell you about.
• Check this site to make sure the people you're working with have the proper licenses and insurance requirements. A/C repair, code enforcement, electricians, mold assessors and remediators and some service contract providers are licensed. Even if the work you need isn't licensed, check them out on the BBB.
• Get everything, and we mean everything, in writing. Leave nothing to chance. Get a contract that will hold up in court if the worst happens. And don't rush. If someone is pressuring you into getting on board, take a step back.
• Call us cynical, but scammers will fake credentials, licenses, and references. Do as much homework and digging as you can to make sure the company is worth its word.
• Never pay up-front for promised work.
• Get receipts for everything done and keep good notes about who you talk to and when.
Have a complaint? Call the Office of the Attorney General's toll-free complaint line at (800) 621-0508 or file a complaint online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.
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