Homeowner safeguards with contractors?

[newaukum]

I have to add something to this post. I am a contractor in Washington State. That being said, check with the potential contractor you are going to hire to see if his insurance covers underground work. Many do not. Also, have the contractor check to see if the authority having jurisdiction requires a special "utility bond" for doing work in the right of way. Most in Wash. require this special rider. For those who do the work all the time it is just a phone call to the insurance agent, but if the contractor has never done utility or underground work, it may take him/her a little time to get this set up. Most contractors have insurance that cover them for accidents, but I always recommend to the client that they get a course of construction rider added to their insurance. It's not that I am going to sue them if I get hurt, it just gives them peace of mind that if something catastrophic goes wrong, they are covered.

 

[JJT]

Dave, $1000/minute for fiber optic repqir, that sure sounds like an urban legend to me. Shoot us the link if you have it. I personally saw an excavator cut a fiber line, about 1" in diameter. The telephone company showed up and it took 4+ hours to get it spliced back together, literally hundreds of individual lines were in that 1" bundle. The contractor was not charged. JJT

 

[EastTexFrank]

You've given lots of good advice here. When we were remodeling the house about 7 years ago, I got supplemental insurance to cover me for contractor injury or damage while on my property. It's a two edged sword if someone is injured or causes damage while doing work on your behalf, whether the individual is insured or not. If he isn't insured he might sue you personally and if he is insured, his insurance company might sue you to recover some or all of their costs. Be very careful with contractors doing work for you.