What To Do When a Contractor Damages Your Home
When you get more wrecking than renovating
Try to stay calm when discussing the damage with contractors. Getting heated or pointing fingers can work against you.
Don’t worry too much about repair costs. Your homeowner's insurance or your contractor’s liability insurance will likely cover it.
Make documenting everything your top priority, whether it’s photos of the damage or written communications with your contractor.
When you hire a local general contractor to fix something in your home, the last thing you expect is for that professional to do additional damage. Unfortunately, it does happen, and knowing what to do when a contractor damages your home can save you time, money, and frustration. Let’s go over what steps you can take to get your home back to its original condition.
1. Alert Authorities, If Necessary
If there’s an issue that puts you or your neighbors at severe risk, like a contractor hitting a gas line or starting a fire, call 911 and report the issue immediately. Safety should always be your top priority. Just use your best judgment here, though. For example, if a plumber causes water damage, you don’t need to alert the authorities—you can just move on to the following steps.
2. Document the Damage
The most important thing you can do is to document the damage as soon as you notice it. Take photos from multiple angles or a video of ongoing damage, like a roof leak or plumbing leak getting worse over time. Take updated pictures and videos daily if anything progresses.
3. Notify the Contractor
Next, let your contractor know. There’s a chance the damage was a mistake, and if you hired a reputable contractor, they might be willing to step in and repair the damage for you, even if they didn’t realize it was their fault.
Even if you trust your contractor to make the issue right, it’s best to notify them in writing and make sure they respond in writing. If anything goes sideways, you’ll be able to refer back to your communication.
Just be sure to remain calm and objective during the communication. Starting arguments out of frustration may lead to additional issues.
4. Contact Your Insurance Company
Next, let your insurance company know about the damage. Send them your photos and videos, and let them know you’re in communication with the contractor. You can ask if the damage would be covered if you can’t come to another resolution.
5. Ask the Contractor to Pay for the Damages
One option you have is to ask the contractor if they’ll pay for the damages or carry out the repairs themselves. If you trust the contractor, you may want to let them do the actual work. If you no longer trust them after the incident, get a third-party contractor to come in and give you an estimate for the repairs. Present that to the original contractor and ask them if they’ll pay the quoted amount.
6. Consider an Insurance Claim or Legal Action
If your contractor is giving you trouble, you can file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance provider and have them seek financial compensation from the professional. They may also go through the contractor’s liability insurance to get payment for the repairs.
If all else fails, you can report the contractor to the Better Business Bureau and file a lawsuit to sue them for damages.
In most cases, your homeowner’s insurance will either cover damage caused by a contractor or work with you and the contractor’s insurance company to get you payment for the necessary repairs. One important exception would be if you hired a contractor or handyperson who didn’t hold the necessary licensing and insurance to get the job done in the first place. In that case, you’ll likely have to pay for the damages or have the contractor pay.
Yes, you can file a claim against a contractor’s general liability insurance if you have the insurer’s information. This is one reason why it’s important to ask each contractor you hire for their license and insurance information before they do any work on your home. You may want to discuss the damage with your contractor first, though, to see if they will fix or pay to fix the issue.
Homeowner’s insurance will usually cover damages caused by contractors, but it won’t cover repairs if a contractor does poor work. If a contractor completes a job and you’re unhappy with the results, your best option is to have a civil conversation with the contractor about the issues. Reputable professionals may be willing to address your concerns at no additional cost or work out another resolution.
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