OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE) – Over the last few months, several cases have been reported about people losing out on thousands of dollars after hiring a contractor for a home remodel that never follow through.
[Affidavit: Hopkins Co. man arrested for stealing woman’s blank check, forging signature]
Mark Schmidt has over 40 years of experience in contracting and remodeling in Owensboro.
He’s retired now, but wants to share his knowledge with anyone with an upcoming project.
“Whether the project is $5000, $10,000, or $75,000, it’s a large investment,” said Schmidt. “They have to do everything in their power to protect themselves.”
Schmidt says first to find your contractor from a reputable source. Word of mouth from a friend isn’t always enough.
“The best place to find a contractor is through your local homeowner’s association,” said Schmidt. “Most associations have pre-approved contractors.”
So you hire your contractor, what next?
“Make sure they have a local business license,” said Schmidt. “It’s easy to follow up on, you can call your local billing department to find out if they have a local business license.”
Then, check to make sure they have liability insurance, and worker’s comp for their employees if they get hurt.
“It protects your home in case something happens in the construction project where they damage your property,” Schmidt said.
One of the most crucial steps, Schmidt says, is making sure there’s a contract.
“Everything needs to be…
