Dept. of Labor & Industries
TUMWATER — Cleanup from recent wildfires will be a big job, one that could be made worse by unregistered contractors taking advantage of people at risk.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) cautions homeowners to work only with registered contractors, and to obtain three bids for any repairs. Though a homeowner may be in a rush to repair storm damage, keep these tips in mind to Hire Smart and avoid shoddy work or bad contractors:
Check whether a contractor is registered by clicking on the link at protectmyhome.net. You can verify whether contractors are licensed, how long they have been in business and see the amount of their insurance coverage and bond.
Beware of red flags, including contractors who ask to be paid in cash, have a check made out to someone other than the business, or work only evenings or on weekends. Unregistered contractors or scam artists typically use these tactics.
Don’t pay in full until the job is done.
See more tips and download the “Hire Smart” worksheet at protectmyhome.net. Also on the page are reminder signs in English and Spanish.
Additional information on recovery from a natural disaster, including reconnecting power to your home, is also available from L&I. Simply go to www.L&I.com, and enter “Disaster recovery” in the search bar, or call your nearest L&I regional office.
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