As cleanup and repairs continue through the weekend in Windsor and Tecumseh, a warning comes from the Better Business Bureau of Western Ontario.
With so much contract work needing to be done, the BBB says it’s important to ensure you deal with a trusted company.
The BBB is out with a number of recommendations to prevent consumers from getting ripped off.
CEO Debra Brady, says one key thing to remember is to get agreements on what work is to be performed in writing.
She says the "fly by night" firms often start the work and don't finish it or they run off with your deposit.
Brady says deposits in this kind of situation are common, but only to about 15 to 20 per cent of the value of the project, adding if someone is asking for more that's a red flag.
She says even in pressure situations, such as the one local homeowners face, it's important to get several estimates.
Check licensing and credentials of any contractor and the BBB has online business reviews you can view.
Brady calls the out of town contractors "storm chasers".
Meanwhile, Onorio Colucci, Windsor's chief administrative officer, said if provincial officials label the communities a "disaster zone", they may be eligible for provincial grants.
Colucci also says the city is working on mobilizing teams of volunteers to help people clean out their wrecked basements.
