Check before you sign
Washington Department of Labor & Industries contractor registration, active, with the business name matching the contract. The bond and liability insurance L&I requires, and general liability limits appropriate to a fire rebuild. A physical address. References from fire losses, not just water. Who the project manager will be.
What to sign
A work authorization for mitigation that describes the scope and says the contractor will bill your insurer directly for covered work, with you responsible for your deductible and any non-covered items you approve in writing. Later, a reconstruction contract tied to the adjuster-approved scope, with change orders in writing.
What never to sign
An assignment of benefits. A contract with blanks. A contract that makes you liable for whatever the insurer does not pay without a cap or your approval. Anything at the scene of the fire from someone you did not call.
Fire chasers
Crews follow scanners to fires and approach families while the trucks are still there, offering board-up, help with the claim and sometimes cash. Some are legitimate. Many get signatures on open-ended contracts or assignments from people in shock. Nothing requires you to use whoever arrives first; take a night, and call someone in the morning.
Deductible offers
Illegal in Washington, and a sign of a contractor who cuts corners elsewhere. The deductible is yours to pay as the policy states.
Public adjusters
Licensed professionals who represent you against the insurer for a percentage of the claim. Useful in large, disputed or complicated losses; unnecessary in most small and mid-size claims where the contractor's documentation is complete. Never sign with one at the scene; decide after the first week with the preliminary scope in hand.
Second opinions
For a large loss, having a second registered contractor review the reconstruction scope is reasonable and cheap. Adjusters are used to it.
