Finding trustworthy contractors has become a concern for residents of San Juan County, New Mexico, who are facing the aftermath of devastating flooding.
The risk of being taken advantage of complicates homeowners' search for repair help. Their homes have been left unlivable, and their belongings destroyed.
Here's what to know
When San Juan County resident Zayra Rivera returned home on October 23, she found several inches of water covering the floors, according to KOAT.
"As soon as I open the door, a bunch of water, mud everywhere. My furniture was destroyed. I walked into my closet. A lot of my clothes was on the floor," Rivera said.
Interior photographs showed similar flooding inside the home of San Juan County residents Rhonda and Dave Schaefer, leaving it uninhabitable. Their home is a few miles from Rivera's.
For both households, recovery includes a search for trustworthy home-repair professionals.
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More background
Extreme weather disasters can threaten lives and livelihoods. Damage to homes can leave residents without safe shelter and place hefty financial burdens on families as they replace belongings and pay for repairs.
The reporting doesn't establish whether climate change influenced this particular flood.
What can be done?
Choosing which contractor to hire requires caution, the Better Business Bureau warned residents.
Licensing, insurance, and bonding are qualifications homeowners should look for in repair professionals. Residents can search business profiles at BBB.org and review the organization's letter grades, which range from A+ to F.
A written agreement should establish the repair timeline and payment schedule before work starts, the organization recommended. Its advice also includes getting references and comparing estimates from several contractors.
Residents who suspect a scam can report it to the BBB. Austin Calabaza, the organization's community outreach coordinator, explained that the reporting resource is free and allows the BBB to share reports with relevant media or law enforcement.
"We understand there's a lot of, you know, fly-by-night companies that come into the community in situations like this. And you just have to be a good consumer," Dave Schaefer said.
Where can I learn more?
Residents rebuilding after disasters in other states have also faced hurdles.
• Colorado homeowners signed over insurance checks before the BBB gave their roofer an 'F'.
• Texas flood survivors pressed Washington for aid as families lived with mold and businesses closed.
• Nebraska families were ordered out of 22 flood-damaged homes, with some questioning repair costs.
• In Uvalde County, Texas, federal disaster aid stalled six weeks after flooding struck.
• Indiana flood survivors awaited emergency aid after record flooding killed seven people.
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