Finding the right restoration contractor to take care of your home or business after a disaster may seem daunting. Here are some tips to help you make an educated decision.
- Look for a contractor with restoration experience: Remodeling and restoration require very different skill sets.
- Request examples/references of the contractor’s past work that is most similar to what needs to be done to your home.
- Verify that your contractor is local: Hiring local is not only good for your community; it will also make checking references easier. It will give you peace of mind that should the need arise, your contractor will still be around in a month or a year after the project ends.
- To confirm the contractor is local look for a physical address, not just a P.O. Box. This can be verified by asking to see the contractor’s “Certificate of Insurance” form.
- Confirm company/contractor is licensed: A licensed contractor is one that has completed and passed the necessary qualifications to achieve this level of licensing and continues to maintain their license on a yearly basis.
- To confirm if your contractor is licensed for City of Toledo and the surrounding communities, go to https://toledo.oh.gov/services/building-inspection/ and click on “Is my Contractor Licensed with the City of Toledo?” From there, click on “licenses” and search for your contractor.
- Validate that you and your contractor are covered: Once you have made a decision on a contractor before work commences, you will want to confirm their General Liability Insurance and Workers’ Compensation.
- General Liability Insurance protects the company/contractor and yourself for any damage the company/contractor may inadvertently cause to your property. Request a current copy of their “Certification of Insurance.”
- Worker’s Compensation protects those working on your property in case of injury. Request for a copy of your contractor’s most current Workers’ Compensation certificate or look it up here:
https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/employer/services/EmployerMCOLookup/nlbwc/employermcolookup0.aspx
J&R Contracting is fully licensed, insured, and bonded. With over 55 years of experience, in the City of Toledo and the surrounding communities, solely in disaster restoration.