ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — If your house needs repairs after Tropical Storm Helene, it could be tempting to just quickly hire a contractor who promises to do the work right away.

But wait a minute: If you don’t do your homework, you might pay thousands of dollars more than you should, or even worse, you could be out a ton of money without the work even being done.

Consider what allegedly happened to a Hendersonville couple that hired a company to remove trees from their roof after the storm. According to a lawsuit filed by N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein’s office, the company got more than $25,000 up front. But the company allegedly only did a small amount of the work and didn’t refund any of the fees.

The Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains has been hearing stories like this one, unfortunately.

WATCH THE VIDEO INTRODUCTION FROM BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS HERE.

“It’s so important to be extremely careful when you are hiring a contractor,” said Megan Carroll, Executive Officer of the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “The stakes are high. If the work isn’t finished, if it’s done poorly, or if it isn’t properly permitted, this could cause major issues for you.”

With this in mind, here are five tips for avoiding contractor rip-offs:

  1. Work with a professional, local contractor. There are many intricacies related to building and repairing homes in Western North Carolina. Licensed General Contractors have a firm grasp of requirements to meet city ordinances, regulations, and permits. You can easily see if a contractor is licensed in our state by visiting the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors website, and find a local contractor through the directory at the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains website.
  2. Ask people you know for a referral. There is no better way to get assurances that work will be done well and for a fair price than to work with a contractor who has done a good job for someone you know.
  3. Don’t give a contractor money up front, and don’t pay in cash. Reputable contractors won’t ask for either.
  4. Use the WNCFix.com website to find a licensed local contractor who can help. The site, launched by members of the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains in response to the storm, matches up homeowners with contractors.
  5. Make sure you get a written contract before you approve the work. The contract should detail the job to be done, with a specific price. And preferably, the contract should have a target date for completion of the work.

If you think you’ve been ripped off by a contractor, contact the N.C. Attorney General’s office at 877-566-7226 or through its website, the Better Business Bureau through its website, or the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors through its website.