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Storm restoration requires patience and planning. Many people have been victims of contractor fraud. We hope this information will protect you and your neighbors from an unfortunate situation.  Call us with any questions about Dallas storm damage repairs.

Work With Certified Professionals

​The best way to protect yourself is to hire a professional. Work with your insurance company and a NARI-Certified Remodeler to develop a comprehensive scope-of-work assessment to restore your home to pre-loss condition. Read this article on settling insurance claims. 

Avoid Short-Cuts at All Costs

​Get a comprehensive itemized proposal from your contractor. The plan should also include the specific types of products and materials that are needed to restore your home to pre-loss condition. Be sure to ask about “allowances” (items that can vary in cost depending on what the homeowner chooses, such as fixtures, tile, cabinets, flooring, etc.). If the estimate includes materials that cost less than what you end up selecting, you can run into cost overages very quickly. 

If your home is a high-end luxury house, you need to make sure that your contractor has access to and is experienced working with premium materials like Cambria Surfaces, DeChateu Flooring, and Renowned StyleCraft Cabinetry.

Additional Work Beyond Storm Damage

If you have the resources, it’s a good time to undertake additional remodeling projects before you start. However, beware of any contractor who says they can add items to an insurance claim or “waive your deductible.”—it’s against the law. Contracts Are Crucial Get a signed contract before any work begins. Federal law requires a contractor to give you written notice of your right to, without penalty, cancel a contract within 3-business days. Your agreement needs to have itemized details for every aspect of the project. Details should include start and approximate completion dates, a payment schedule, product types, and responsibilities of the contractor and any subcontractors. The contract should also include provisions for change order procedures, warranties, and alternative dispute resolution clauses.

Never Pay Upfront

Tie payments to work stages. Avoid contractors who ask for the total cost or a large sum of money upfront. Contractors will usually split payments into percentages of the total cost of the project. Payments should be related to benchmarks or significant stages of the project. 

Remodeling Can Be Stressful

Keep your perspective. Restoring and repairing a home is disruptive to your regular household environment. It is essential to know that you will need to take deep breaths, keep your focus, and work toward the result you want. If problems occur, talk to your contractor about your concerns. When you work with professionals like Renowned, remodeling can be an enjoyable experience during the process and extremely worthwhile when all is said-and-done. 

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