Building Contractors

While it's very tempting to turn to the phone book and hire the first contractor listed when an emergency arises, this is perhaps the most important time to check out a contractor before hiring one. Caving into temptation to hire someone, anyone, can cost more money than the job's worth, so calm down and keep a level head while you proceed to find a way out of that emergency.

Since you're in a bad position - facing a burst pipe, broken heater or fried electrical system - a bad contractor might try to take advantage of you. After all, you're pressed up against a wall, willing to pay anything to get the lights back on again.

So, take care in an emergency situation to apply the rules of good common sense before hiring a contractor to handle the job. If you don't know a contractor that's reputable to contact, turning to the phone book in an emergency is certainly okay, but before you sign a contract, do take the time to check out the company.

If the contractor you hire in an emergency doesn't do the job right or charges too much, you'll be the one who pays. What's a few extra hours without heat compared to having the problem arise again and bringing with it more expenses? You might find yourself paying a lot more in the long run if you don't know what you're getting into.

Also, even in an emergency situation, it's a very good idea to get a written estimate and make sure a contract is signed for a big job. The contract should clearly spell out what work will be done, when and how much it will cost. Read it all the way through - fine print, too. Get things in writing before signing a contract is a good practice.

Making sure the entire job is understood well by both the client and the contractor makes sense, protects both parties and helps prevent problems down the road. Getting these items first is vital for all parties involved and should be considered a part of the normal hiring process.

Once you've done a little homework, remember to also follow your "gut impression." If you think a contractor is trying to take you to the cleaners, that's probably so.

Remember on pricing though that "emergency" repairs often cost more and rightfully so. This is especially so for jobs that are done in the middle of the night, on weekends or holidays. Expect to pay a little more, but expect and demand good service.

By checking out the contractor and making sure everything is in order, your emergency repair job shouldn't turn into an emptied bank account.