A couple in Long Island and their three young children spent last month living in a camera behind their home. To see their beautiful home from the outside, the script makes sense.
But take a step inside, and the situation becomes very clear.
The visible family lives in Shoreham and hired a contractor “and former friend” to remodel their home this summer. They submitted $ 96,200 for various equipment and materials, and the contractor was immediately forced to work the house.
But this is tremendously where work is over. When the local news outflow ABC7 visited the family on their property, they found the interior of the house in the shampoo nothing but the exposed wiring, plywood flowers and spray -painted instructions, where the kitchen appliances should be installed.
How to check if your contractor is licensed
The check that your contractor is licensed can be accomplished by searching for online databases, such as Better Business Bureau, your Local Commerce and Trade Associations.
“Licensed contractors pay in a state fund that reimburses homeowners if the contractor does not complete the work in a satisfactory way,” Morris Katz, owner of Katz Contracting, says Realtor.comâ®.
It was not until the damage was done that the family learned that their contractor was actually in the issues of the Suffolk County County “The Wall of Shame” for the operation without a valuable contractor license.
While the rules and regulations of licensing vary from state to state, even the county in the district in some countries, it is still advised to hire a contractor without a license regardless of laws.
You also want to make sure your contractor has insurance. Having a secured contractor means that their work is supported by a provider, so if any harm is caused to your home in the renovation process, their work is covered. Most states have the contractor’s insurance database that you can use online.
What to ask when choosing a contractor
Once you have followed a licensed contractor, your next step would be to check if they are the right team for the job you need.
There are, of course, general contractors, but there are also those who specialize in specific areas, such as HVAC, Electric and Lead.
A simply Google search must clear any confusion about their expertise. He is also likely to present any customer review that has been posted “good and bad.
Liz Krumemer-Smith, a real estate investor, had a œightmareâ experience with a contractor who received her money and ran without ever doing a single day’s work. Her main advice is to make your second care immediately.
“A purely Google’s company searching would have revealed some terrible estimates, including other cases where he had stolen money from customers,” she shared.
“My attorney revealed that there were other active costumes on the matter just as against his company in public data.â €
How much does a contractor cost in 2025?
A good rule is if a contractor gives you an estimate that looks too good to be true “maybe.
Like everything else, the cost of contractors’ services has increased in recent years, with the average cost of a total contractor landing to $ 4,000, according to Homeadivisor.com.
But you can be in line for up to $ 58,000, depending on the level of work you need. For example, additional fees for building permits, employment subcontractors or completion of land surveys can increase that number.
A great way to check prices is to use Realtor.com renewal calculator. This tool will help you calculate costs and return investments to various home renovations based on your ZIP code.
What to ask when choosing a contractor
Once you have followed a licensed contractor, your next step would be to check if they are the right team for the job you need.
There are, of course, general contractors, but there are also those who specialize in specific areas, such as HVAC, Electric and Lead.
A simply Google search must clear any confusion about their expertise. He is also likely to present any customer review that has been posted “good and bad.
Liz Krumemer-Smith, a real estate investor, had a œightmareâ experience with a contractor who received her money and ran without ever doing a single day’s work. Her main advice is to make your second care immediately.
“A purely Google’s company searching would have revealed some terrible estimates, including other cases where he had stolen money from customers,” she shared.
“My attorney revealed that there were other active costumes on the matter just as against his company in public data.â €
How much does a contractor cost in 2025?
A good rule is if a contractor gives you an estimate that looks too good to be true “maybe.
Like everything else, the cost of contractors’ services has increased in recent years, with the average cost of a total contractor landing to $ 4,000, according to Homeadivisor.com.
But you can be in line for up to $ 58,000, depending on the level of work you need. For example, additional fees for building permits, employment subcontractors or completion of land surveys can increase that number.
A great way to check prices is to use Realtor.com renewal calculator. This tool will help you calculate costs and return investments to various home renovations based on your ZIP code.
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