5 important things to do before inviting a vendor to work inside your home

At Chubb, we look for ways to do more for our clients, like keeping you, your home and your loved ones safe when you need to use an outside vendor or contractor to do work inside your home. Consider the following tips when you hire someone to come into your home to perform maintenance or make repairs.

Do your research.

Read reviews from reliable sources such as Angie’s List or HomeAdvisor, check the Better Business Bureau to see if the vendor has received any complaints, and contact your insurance company for their vetted recommendations. Also, only use licensed professionals with plenty of experience.

Consider basic safety procedures.

Make sure the company runs regular background checks and thoroughly vets each of their employees. Confirm that they have the appropriate type and amount of insurance to protect their customers.

Obtain the name, I.D. and vehicle make/model of the vendor representative who will be coming to your property before they arrive. Ideally, they will travel in a company-branded vehicle with I.D., and wear apparel that clearly displays the company name and logo.

For COVID-related safety tips when working with contractors or vendors click here.

Make sure someone is with you on the day of the visit.

When the contractor arrives, it is smart to have someone else in the house with you, if possible. If you have a home security camera system, this is an excellent way to track who is entering and exiting your home, as well as the activities someone is conducting during their visit. 

Set healthy boundaries.

You can and should politely tell the contractor what you are and are not comfortable with, including whether they can use your powder room, whether they need to remove their shoes, and so on. And, as always, listen to your intuition.

Chubb has partnered with HomeAdvisor because they make it simple for homeowners to find and connect with one of their 200,000 qualified home service pros. HomeAdvisor uses an extensive screening process to ensure that every business in the network is reputable. Of course, it is a good idea to perform your own due diligence such as verifying proper permits, being sure to secure a valid receipt, and receiving everything in writing. These steps will help you further protect yourself and get the job done right. To get started on your next home project, please call the dedicated Chubb number at (888)-207-8540. 

Only work with reputable vendors

Speak to your agent or broker about Chubb’s Preferred Service Provider Network (PSPN). New vendors are constantly being vetted and added to the network.