BBB Sacramento: Tips for rebuilding following California wildfires

Each year fire season in California has seemed to start earlier and earlier, with this year being a record year. According to CAL FIRE, there have been nearly 3,000 wildland fire incidents, more than 2,000 structure fires, and more than 100,000 acres burned so far in 2024. Sadly, scam artists and internet criminals will attempt to take advantage of these moments of vulnerability to take advantage of victims and those who are trying to help. Here are Better Business Bureau’s tips for rebuilding following California’s wildfires.

Tips for Rebuilding

If you have been affected by a wildfire, be cautious if:

• A worker shows up on your doorstep to announce that your home is unsafe. If you are concerned about possible structural damage in your home, have an engineer, architect, or building official inspect it.
• Someone is offering to repair or rebuild your property with a deal that sounds too good to be true.
• A worker shows up on your doorstep and claims to have leftover materials from a job “down the street”.
• A contractor doesn’t have a permanent place of business.
• A worker claims to be associated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA certified) - FEMA does not certify general contractors in California or any other state. To see if FEMA is active in your area, please visit https://www.fema.gov/locations/california
• Someone contacts you to solicit personal information such as Social Security or bank account numbers.

Good advice when you need it: 

• Don't rush into decisions and don't automatically hire the first contractor who comes along.
• Following a disaster, you may have the right to cancel your contract within 7 days if the contract was signed in your home or anywhere away from the contractor’s trade premises, and before midnight of the seventh business day after the date the damage occurred. Learn more about exceptions to this rule.
• Check with your insurance company about policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Save all receipts, including those for food, temporary lodging, or other expenses that may be covered under your policy.
• Although you may be anxious to get things back to normal, avoid letting your emotions get the better of you. Don't be pressured into making an immediate decision with a long-term impact. Be proactive in selecting a business and not reactive to sales solicitations. Make temporary repairs if necessary.
• In California, contractors doing work with costs in labor and material exceeding $500, including debris removal, must be licensed with the Contractor’s State License Board (CSLB). For major repairs, take time to shop around and get three estimates based on the same specifications and materials. Check out references, verify licenses with the CSLB, and read the company’s Business Profile.
• Make sure you get a written contract from anyone you hire. It should specify the work to be done, the materials to be used, and the price breakdown for both labor and materials. Any promises made orally should be written into the contract, including warranties on materials or labor. Be sure their name, address, license number, and phone number along with a start and end date for the work are included in the contract. Read and understand the contract in its entirety and don’t sign a blank contract. A copy of the signed contract is to be given to you when you sign.
• Never pay full price in advance and do not pay cash. Establish a payment schedule. Do not make a final payment until you are satisfied with the completed work.  On their website, CSLB states no more than 10 percent down or $1,000 - whichever is less when you sign a contract. Don’t let the payments get ahead of the work.
• Monitor the progress of the project and keep a paper trail of all documents. 

For more information, contact your local Better Business Bureau at BBB.org. Report any suspicious activity to BBB Scam Tracker and learn more about the different types of common scams on BBB.org/scamtips.

About BBB: For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. BBB of Northeast California is one of over 100 local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For reports on businesses and for information about BBB services, please visit our website at BBB.org/sacramento or call us at (916) 443-6843.