{"id":369423,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:27","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/realestate\/owning-a-home\/repairing-your-home-after-a-disaster.html"},"modified":"2017-03-10T14:41:15","modified_gmt":"2017-03-10T19:41:15","slug":"repairing-your-home-after-a-disaster","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/owning-a-home\/repairing-your-home-after-a-disaster.html","title":{"rendered":"Repairing Your Home After a Disaster"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Repairing Your Home After a Disaster<\/h1>\n
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If your house has been damaged by a natural disaster — flood, fire, snow\/ice, tornado or earthquake — chances are you’re on the hunt for a reputable contractor to help with repair and restoration. Inevitably, the demand for qualified contractors after a disaster usually exceeds the supply. Enter the home repair rip-off artist, who may overcharge, perform shoddy work or skip town without finishing your job.<\/p>

This article provides practical advice and some red flags to look for when repairing your home after a disaster. See FindLaw’s Owning a Home<\/a> section for additional articles. <\/p>

Repairing Your Home After a Disaster: Avoiding Rip-Offs <\/h3>

Because many legitimate licensed home repair companies can be booked solid for months, frustrated and anxious homeowners and landlords, eager to get their property back in shape, may neglect to take the usual precautions when hiring contractors. As a result, some consumers find that they’ve hired part-time contractors, who may not get the job done in a reasonable time; contractors from surrounding areas, who may be difficult to track down for follow-up; inexperienced contractors, who may not do the job well; and all too often, just plain crooks, who are seizing the opportunity to make a fast buck.<\/p>

Many communities have emergency ordinances in place to keep crooked contractors out. But for consumers desperate to get the work done, recognizing a home repair rip-off can be a challenge.<\/p>

Repairing Your Home After a Disaster: Tips from FEMA and the FTC <\/h3>

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency offer the following tips for consumers who may be facing major repairs after a disaster hits home:<\/p>