Licensed, Insured, and Bonded: The Scary Pitfalls of Hiring an Unqualified Gutter and Siding Contractor
“That will never happen to me.” – Everyone who has ever had something bad happen to them.
Hiring a gutter and siding contractor who isn’t licensed, insured, or bonded might seem like a great idea… until it’s not. Even if they are the least expensive option in your area, you could end up with hefty expenses down the road. Take it from us — saving a few bucks now isn’t worth the possible financial and legal trouble later.
Why Your Gutter and Siding Contractor Should Be Licensed
It takes a lot more work to get a contractor license than it does to get a driver’s license. Licensed contractors must pass state exams, pay dues, and, sometimes, prove their financial stability. To put it simply, it is a good indicator that you’ll be doing business with a motivated, responsible individual.
The opposite can be said of a contractor who is not licensed. They may have no motivation to produce quality work because nothing bad will happen to them if they don’t.
Why Your Gutter and Siding Contractor Should Be Insured
All contractors should carry two types of insurance: liability and workers’ compensation. Liability insurance will protect the contractor and yourself in the event that your home is damaged during the job.
If they don’t have liability insurance and a ladder crashes through your window… well, let’s just say you should at least make sure your new window contractor carries insurance.
Workers’ compensation insurance is there to protect the contractor, their employees, and yourself. If a worker gets hurt, they are going to expect someone to pay for their medical bills and lost wages.
If the company doesn’t provide workers’ comp, that hurt employee could take you to court if you also choose not to pay them. Do you have thousands of dollars set aside to pay for a lawyer and court fees? It’s better not to risk it.
Why Your Gutter and Siding Contractor Should Be Bonded
Being bonded inherently means that the contractor has a good reputation. It means they will finish every job they start and will come back and fix problems after they are done. This is because if they don’t finish or fix a bad job, the bonding company will have to step in and pay for another contractor to finish it. They won’t continue to cover a contractor that often breaks its customer contracts.
What if your contractor isn’t bonded and they installed gutters that were too small? Your house could receive water damage, and they wouldn’t have any incentive to come back and fix the damage or replace the gutters.
Ask for Proof
Don’t feel awkward asking your contractor for proof of their license, insurance, and bonding paperwork. They should have copies ready to go. You can check the license number with the state licensing office to make sure they are still in good standing. Visit this blog to find out the other paperwork you should expect to get from your gutter and siding contractor.
How to Pay for Your Gutter or Siding Project
Now that you see the importance of hiring a legitimate gutter and siding contractor, it’s time to figure out how you will pay for your project. Luckily, HFS Financial is here to help you find the perfect loan for your needs. It only takes 60 seconds to fill out our application. Plus, your loan will be funded upfront, so your contractor will be able to start as soon as possible. Remember, at HFS Financial, “You Dream It, We Finance It!”
