Hi, I’m Matthew Mobilio founder of Mobilio Law.  In a previous video I discussed what to do if you’ve been screwed over by an unscrupulous contractor.  In this video I’m going to talk a little bit about the importance of choosing the right home improvement contractor.

As I discussed in my prior video, there are a few options that a screwed over homeowner can pursue such as going through the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office and/or filing a civil complaint.  While those options are viable and can and often times do result in some sort of settlement, there is an important term that aggrieved homeowners should be aware before hiring a contractor:   workmanship.

Workmanship means “the degree of skill with which a product is made or a job done”.  The reason this term is important is because contractors are generally not, and are not required to be, insured for defective workmanship.   Contractors are, however, required to maintain insurance for personal injury and property damage.   What that means is, if a contractor you hired does something that causes you physical injury or damages your property, their insurance company will compensate you for your loss.  If however the contractor simply does a poor job on the project you hired them to do the insurance company has no responsibility to compensate you.  Depending on the value of the project, recovering against a contractor who doesn’t have insurance coverage and may be living paycheck to paycheck or is operating as a limited liability company with little or no assets may be impossible.  That is why it is so important to hire a reputable contractor for your home improvement needs.

A home improvement contractor who is highly rated and who possesses their own equipment acts as a hedge against the possibility of future issues arising.  Should issues arise you can be comforted by the fact that the contractor has sufficient assets to remedy any issues with respect to their workmanship.  In short, utilizing a contractor who offers the lowest rate may end up costing you more in the long run.

If you have questions regarding an issue with a contractor contact me today for a free no obligation case evaluation.