To keep costs down, Pritchard recommends asking the contractor what tasks you can tackle in advance, so he doesn’t have to charge for time spent doing things other than fixing the problem. Also, consider buying high-quality materials for your contractor, he said. It might cost more upfront, but you don’t want to use substandard materials that have to be replaced soon.
Above all, be wary of offers from contractors who show up at your door offering to seal your driveway, fix your roof or make other repairs at hard-to-resist prices. They could be scammers who use subpar materials or who take your money and run, according to the Better Business Bureau. Before hiring contractors, the BBB recommends finding out if the companies are insured and bonded, researching them at BBB.org and getting several quotes.
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