No matter how prepared you are, no one can predict a catastrophe. Navigating the feelings of shock and devastation, while determining your next steps is an extremely difficult time for homeowners and their families.
As a consumer protection agency, our role is to give you the tools to make informed decisions. If you have experienced a catastrophic loss due to fire or water damage, whether it is a house fire, leaky roof, burst pipe, or flooding, here are some tips when hiring professionals to repair your home:
Confirm that you can re-enter your home
Depending on the severity of the incident, your house may have mold and water damage, structural issues, gas leaks, and electrical hazards. Homeowners should confirm with their local fire department that it is safe to re-enter the home. In some cases, it is recommended to wear an N-95 safety mask when entering a damaged structure.
Contact insurance company
Homeowners should contact their insurance company to begin the claim process. The insurance company will likely send out an adjuster to assess the damage, record any losses, and determine the amount of compensation. Some insurance companies may contract with the restoration company directly, so that the homeowner doesn’t have to pay out of pocket.
Hire local
When hiring any contractor, it’s important to hire a local business. Asking for recommendations from friends, family members, and coworkers is a good place to start. If you are unable to get recommendations from people you know, you may use your community page on social media to ask for contractors who specialize in water or fire damage.
Verify the contractor’s registration
Once you have a contractor(s) in mind, verify their name or business on eLicense, a public search tool that informs consumers if credentials are active. It is illegal for an individual to conduct home improvement projects with an inactive or no Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration.
- Mold Remediation: Starting October 1, 2026, businesses offering mold remediation on residential properties must be certified and registered as a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC). Working with a registered contractor gives consumers the best protection in the event that the project goes wrong. Consumers who hire an unregistered contractor are ineligible for the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, a fund set up to reimburse those harmed by a registered contractor.
Get multiple quotes
Although water and fire damage creates a sense of urgency, obtaining quotes from at least three registered contractors gives you more options and prices to choose from. This allows you to eliminate any outliers, for example a business that charges an extremely high or low price compared to the others.
Review contract
In Connecticut, all home improvement projects must have a written and signed contract. Contracts must include the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration number, project summary, payment schedule, breakdown of cost and fees, the consumer’s three-day right to cancel, and four dates:
-
The date the contract was signed
-
The date the work will begin
-
The date that the project will be completed
After signing a home improvement contract, consumers typically have three days to decide if they want to go through with the project. For emergency repairs, the three-day right to cancel can be waived. Consumers should review the contract closely before signing.
Payment recommendations
Homeowners should always pay deposits through a traceable form of payment, such as credit card. If a legitimate contractor does not accept credit cards, the next best way to pay for home improvement work is with a check made payable to the name that appears on the registration.
Deposits should never be paid in cash or through peer-to-peer apps such as Venmo, PayPal or Cash App. Consumers should avoid working with someone who demands the full payment upfront, as this can be a red flag.
We recommend breaking up your payments into three parts:
-
First payment: The deposit and initial material costs
-
Second payment: Halfway through the project
-
Third payment: After the project has been completed
Payments should align with the project's progress. Do not make the final payment until you are satisfied with the finished product. All payment details should be clearly outlined in the contract agreed to by both you and the contractor prior to the start of the project. Be sure to get a receipt after each payment.
Confirm details and sign
If details of the contract are unclear, feel free to ask the contractor any questions. The project summary, timeline, and payment schedule should be clearly detailed. Next, confirm which party is responsible for pulling the building permit.
If the contractor is responsible for pulling the building permit, the homeowner should verify with their local official that the appropriate permit has been obtained. Find out more about building permits.