If your home has suffered from storm or hurricane damage, you’ll want to make sure that you get the damage repaired as quickly as possible. If you ever need to sell your home, you want it to be in good repair, and storm damage — especially when it concerns your roof — could create more problems later on down the road that only get more expensive to fix with time.

Fixing your home, however, means you’ll need to hire a contractor to do the work. Here’s some advice for hiring a contractor to fix your damaged home:

— Only hire a reliable and licensed contractor you feel you can trust.

— Require a written estimate before the contractor starts to work on the job.

— Get references for the contractor and actually call them to see if prior customers were satisfied.

— Require a copy of your contractor’s proof of insurance. You’ll want your contractor to have both workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance. This way you’re not on the financial hook if a serious accident happens on your property.

— Require a written contract. A contract for the job should be completed to state what tasks need to be performed, the payment schedule and a listing of all costs. Don’t sign a contract that’s blank, and keep a copy of it after signing.

— Get a building permit. You might need a permit for the job you’re doing on your home. Be sure to check with a local building inspector or your lawyer to ensure you have the proper permits.

If you have home damage following a hurricane, make sure you’re doing your repairs the right way with a trusted contractor. In order to avoid problems related to your home repair, you may want to consult with an Orlando-area real estate lawyer to help you with your home repair requirements.

Source: ClickOrlando.com, “Post storm repair message: Contractor must be licensed in Florida,” Mike Holfeld, accessed May 26, 2017