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What the BBB says you need to know before you hire a contractor this summer

Posted at 5:30 PM, Jun 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-21 08:09:51-04

Ray Sowa can’t believe his home still looks like a construction zone. Last fall, the senior forked over more than 8 thousand dollars to green acres landscaping to install a brick patio at his Farmington home.

But soon after construction, he says a major problem developed.

"When I came here, there was about 2 to 3 inches in front of the door way," he said.

Massive water flooding, then ultimately seeping into the house.  

He showed 7 Action News some images of what it’s looked like at its worse. The inside carpet on one occasion was destroyed, he says.

"We had to pull up all carpeting in five rooms" he said.

Sowa says it all stems from the drainage system built with a flaw that makes it so that the water flows towards the house instead of away from it.

The 78 year-old wants some of his money for the job returned.

7 Action News spoke with Green Acre. They claim they’ve offered to come back and make a fix, but Sowa turned it down, saying their ‘proposed fix’ wouldn't’t do enough to curb the flooding.

What does the contract say? That’s part of the problem, there is no contract, both parties agreeing to this job on a handshake.

The BBB says before you hire, you should always get the terms in writing, including future service issues and warranty coverage plus, always keep the contract and other documents in case issues come up.

The BBB has several more tips for those gearing up to hire for home improvement projects this summer. Read this before you hire. https://www.bbb.org/en/us/article/tips/14081-bbb-tip-hiring-a-contractor

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