Your Better Business Bureau is acutely aware that the Waldo Canyon Fire has had a devastating effect on our community and we recognize the repercussions will be felt for years.
Please know we are here to help and will answer any questions you may have regarding the recovery/rebuilding process.
Below are tips to help navigate this overwhelming process.
Before you do anything, investigate the company. Start with www.southerncolorado.bbb.org or call (719) 636-1155. We have more than four million companies in our national database rated A+ through F.
Solicit two or three bids from any roofing, restoration, remodeling or repair contractors you are considering. All bids should be based on the same specifications: quality of materials, installation techniques, start and completion dates. Guarantees must be in writing. Be sure the contractor is in compliance with all local licensing, bonding and insurance requirements, and that any necessary building permits are obtained by the company. Contact the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department at www.pprbd.org to confirm.
Read the contract carefully before signing. Never sign a blank or incomplete contract. If you do not understand the contract, do not sign it until you do. Obtain a copy of the contract at the time it is signed. Contracts signed away from the seller's normal place of business are subject to the Federal Trade Commission’s 3-day “Cooling Off Rule.” You do not have to give a reason for cancelling the transaction. You have the right to change your mind. For details go to www.ftc.gov. Also, be sure the contract includes the contractor’s name, physical address, (PO Boxes can be red flags) license number and phone number. Look for clearly written proposals that break out each task as a separate line item.
A down payment of one third is a general industry standard. Additional payments are made after completion of the next phase of work with final payment made only after all work is complete and has been inspected and approved by you and, if appropriate, the licensing authority.
Natural disasters bring out scammers. Be wary of door-to-door workers who claim to have left-over materials from a job down the street, or who do not have a permanent place of business. If sales people contact you in this manner, check to see if your community requires them to have a solicitation permit.
Know the facts about public adjusters. Typically, insurance companies provide trained professional adjusters to help homeowners deal with the claims process. However, if you choose to hire a public adjuster remember their fee will come out of your insurance settlement, or your own pocket. The adjuster must be licensed in Colorado. Call the Division of Insurance at (303) 894-7490 to confirm the adjuster is licensed. Public adjusters are currently arriving from California, and will most likely be coming from other states as well. Know where the licensed public adjuster resides permanently. Check out the company with your BBB.
To report any suspicious companies, calls, emails or door-to-door contacts, please contact: info@bbbsc.org or call (719) 636-1155.
