6 Things You Should Ask A Chimney Repair Professional Before Hiring

There are some things that you should always ask a chimney repair professional before you hire them to work on your home, to make sure that you get the best company for the job and the end results that you are hoping for.

If you fail to ask these crucial questions you could end up making a big mistake and choosing the wrong contractor for the job.

Some of the most important questions that you need to ask include:

• How long has the business been operating and repairing chimneys?
• Are references available for you to check on, preferably homeowners who have used the company before?
• Are there any pending lawsuits or complaints against the contractor?
• Is there an adequate amount of liability insurance for the contractor, and can you verify this fact?
• Does the business offer video scanning of your chimney interior?
• What guarantees or warranties will you get from the contractor and are these acceptable?

1. How Long Have You Been in the Business of Chimney Repair?

This answer will help you decide whether the company has enough experience in chimney repair to handle your home repairs. Discuss how many of these jobs the business does each year on average, and what else they specialize in. An inexperienced contractor may make some common and avoidable mistakes, costing you even more time and money.

2. Can You Provide References from Past Jobs You Performed?

Any chimney repair professional who has been in the business for even a year or two should be able to provide past clients as references. Be wary of any company that can not or will not provide references because they may have something that they are trying to hide. Always check any references that you are given.

3. Do You Have any Pending Complaints or Lawsuits Against Your Company?

If a chimney repair professional has a single complaint or a lawsuit from some time ago then they may not be a poor choice. Any contractor with many complaints or lawsuits should be considered less than desirable though, because this can be a red flag for shoddy work or other unsavory practices. You can not please everyone but a majority of clients should be very satisfied.

4. Do You Have Adequate Liability Insurance for Your Business and Can This be Verified?

Before you hire anyone for chimney repair you need to make sure that the business is covered by a liability insurance policy, and that this coverage is sufficient. The contractor should be willing to provide proof of this coverage if you ask for it, and any that can not should be eliminated from consideration to avoid any problems if something goes wrong.

5. Do You Offer Video Scanning of the Chimney Interior?

Some professionals who do chimney repair will offer a video scanning of the chimney interior while others do not use this technology. In some cases video scanning is not needed but at times this may be a better option.

6. What Guarantees or Warranties do You Offer with Your Work?

Any chimney repair company that offers great results and competitive prices will offer some type of guarantee or warranty on any work that they perform. The length of the guarantee can vary from one business to the next so make sure you know how long you are covered for before you pick a contractor to use.

What questions would you ask if you suspected chimney repair was needed?