By NewsLine Staff
\nmail@floridanewsline.com<\/p>\n
St. Johns County residents are urged to stay vigilant throughout the recovery proceswhen hiring contractors to repair home or business damage due to Hurricane Matthew. For tips on how to\u00a0protect yourself from contractor fraud, refer to these tips or visit the State Attorney General\u2019s\u00a0site at http:\/\/bit.ly\/2dZRQTL. To report fraud, call the State Attorney General\u2019s Fraud Hotline at (866) 966-7226.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be wary of anyone who approaches you unsolicited or says they can perform your repairs at a\u00a0discount.
\n\u2022 Get multiple estimates.
\n\u2022 Verify that the contractor has a license from the Department of Business & Professional Regulation\u00a0(DBPR) or your county construction licensing board.
\n\u2022 Research the company and its reputation \u2013 ask for references.
\n\u2022 Check for proof of insurance and\/or bonding and verify their policy is current.
\n\u2022 Never pay the full amount of a repair up front and give consideration before providing large\u00a0deposits. Florida law requires a contractor to apply for a permit within 30 days and start work within\u00a090 days if he collects more than 10 percent of the contract up front.
\n\u2022 Read the entire contract, including the fine print, before signing and ensure that the contract\u00a0includes the required \u201cbuyer\u2019s right to cancel\u201d (within three days) language.
\n\u2022 Homeowners may unknowingly have liens placed against their properties by suppliers or
\nsubcontractors who have not been paid by the contractor. If the contractor fails to pay them, the\u00a0liens will remain on the title. Insist on\u00a0releases of any liens that could be placed on the property\u00a0from all subcontractors prior to making final payments.
\n\u2022 Do not sign a certificate of completion or make final payment until you are satisfied with the work\u00a0performed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By NewsLine Staff mail@floridanewsline.com St. Johns County residents are urged to stay vigilant throughout the recovery proceswhen hiring contractors to repair home or business damage due to Hurricane Matthew. For tips on how to\u00a0protect yourself from contractor fraud, refer to these tips or visit the State Attorney General\u2019s\u00a0site at http:\/\/bit.ly\/2dZRQTL. To report fraud, call the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2443,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2442","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-creekline-st-johns","8":"category-ponte-vedra"},"yoast_head":"\n