Issues with contractors are consistently listed as one of the top problems and questions fielded by people at the Better Business Bureau in Pittsburgh.
"He dug this hill, and he broke that pipe. He claims that he did not," said Jamie Conrad, a homeowner in Leechburg.
Conrad has been in a "he-said, she-said" battle with her contractor for six months.
"I don't think this is right," said Conrad.
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Conrad invited Channel 11 out to her home in Leechburg to see the work. She said she originally needed to hire a contractor because water was coming off a nearby hill and into her house.
Conrad said the contractor, TL Construction, advised her to put in a French drain to collect the water underground and send it out past her house.
But that's not what happened.
Instead, Conrad said the water "stalled" underground and created a muddy mess. Now, she said, she can feel the ground sinking under her.
TL Construction declined to comment and is in a legal battle with Conrad over the work. Conrad, for her part, said she partly blames herself because she didn't ask for a warranty.
"What people need to know, I think, is that you have to get a warranty for the work," said Conrad.
Channel 11 Morning News anchor Katherine Amenta went to the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania to find out exactly what people need to know when hiring a home contractor.
First and foremost, the bureau said, make sure the contractor is registered with the state attorney general's office, as the law in Pennsylvania has required since 2009.
But that registration is just the basics. You still need to do your own research. Make sure the contractor you're hiring has liability insurance, and ask to see the policy for yourself. Then, get three different price quotes, and watch out for any offers that seem too expensive, or even too cheap.
"That could be a red flag that the contractor potentially doesn't understand the scope of the work that's to be done," said Caitlin Driscoll, who works for the Better Business Bureau.
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Also, get references, and if possible visit the job sites of those references during each of the four seasons to see how the contractor's work has held up. And finally, make sure to put everything in writing, including a warranty and a contract.
"If a contractor is trying to convince you that a contract is not necessary, that the job is small in nature, that should be a red flag," said Driscoll.
If you've had a problem with a contractor that you've been unable to resolve, contact the Better Business Bureau online or by calling (877) 267-5222.