Before You Hire a Contractor

Unscrupulous Contractors

Increased complaints received by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General demonstrates that unscrupulous home repair contractors use some common techniques to gain the confidence of home owners. Unscrupulous contractors might tell you they have leftovers from a larger job and can do the repair work for you at a discount. They might attempt to frighten you by claiming that your house contains health hazards or code violations that must be fixed right away. They might claim to be a representative of your insurance company in an attempt to get you to agree to work they say your insurance policy will pay for.

Contractor Tips

Before you hire a contractor for new construction, home remodeling or any other work, please follow the Village of Homer Glen's general contractor tips:

• Obtain recommendations from friends and neighbors or contact the Illinois Attorney General's Office or the Better Business Bureau.
• Ask the contractor if the company is insured against claims covering workers compensation, property damage and general liability.
• Make sure the contractor is registered in Homer Glen.
• All estimates should be in writing. Plans and specifications need to be detailed and easy to read. A written contract should be required that specifies all work to be done and include a completion date. (We recommend consulting with an attorney).
• Be sure to see the building permit prior to the start of the work. Post the permit in a conspicuous location until the work is completed and inspected by the Village.

If you have any questions you may contact the Homer Glen Building Department at 708-301-1301 or the Illinois Attorney General's Office.