In the aftermath of the devastating hailstorm this weekend, we want to remind you of the importance of recognizing licensed businesses when sourcing general contractors for repairs and insurance claims.
Communities affected by damage resulting from the storm are seeing an increase in door-to-door sales approaches by contractor services.
If a sales person or contractor comes to your door, it is good practice to closely scrutinize their identification tag for authenticity and to get a name. Never feel pressured to make a quick decision or sign a contract because the sales person is at your door, and do not offer any upfront payment before services are rendered.
When choosing a contractor, you should take the following steps:
✅ Ensure that the contractor holds a valid City of Calgary Business Licence by phoning 311 or using the calgary.ca database tool to search the list of licensed trade contractors.
✅ Ask for detailed estimates from multiple contractors and when a decision has been made, ask them to provide a comprehensive, written contract that includes both project and business details.
✅ Ask for references for potential contractors.
✅ Verify that your contractor carries liability insurance.
✅ After the work is complete, verify that there are no builder’s liens registered to your land title. A builder’s lien is a legal notice filed by unpaid suppliers or subcontractors for materials or work on your property.
Fraud prevention begins with fraud awareness. Calgarians should make sure a company is licensed before entering into a contract. Businesses licensed by us have had their qualifications validated and meet the necessary regulations and standards to operate in Calgary. There are more than 10,000 licensed contractors in the city who provide excellent services for Calgarians.
Calgarians can call 311 to check if a company is licensed and ensure the validity of a contractor’s business, or to report licencing concerns.
More information: https://www.calgary.ca/…/…/renovation-contracting-tips.aspx…
