Being a homeowner is the ultimate dream, but according to the Insurance Information Institute, one in every 20 property owners will file an insurance claim within the first ten years of being in their home. Many of these claims are inescapable due to weather or disaster, but some can be avoided with proper home maintenance. When experiencing a claim, or participating in proper home maintenance to help avoid a claim, using a reputable and licensed contractor or servicer is crucial.

Yearly inspections of your HVAC, plumbing, alarms and roof condition are important as many of the costliest home issues can be caused by these and not natural reasons. These check-ups can add up and may lead homeowners to seek repairs from an unlicensed handy man but that is potentially worse than the damage that you are trying to prevent. Unlicensed repair men do not have the certifications to properly inspect, restore or fix any issues you have and do not carry insurance in case of a risk or liability. In other words, they can not be held liable for work performed or faulty repairs.

It’s important as well to look for reputable contractors via word-of-mouth referrals. You can also look at respected and known sources such as the BBB or the Contractor’s State License Board for information and to check whether a license is valid. Another good source is the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Save yourself the headache and always seek licensed and reputable professionals to complete any job around the house.