My neighbor's house is under renovation, and while trying to park parallel to my garage, one of the workers accidentally backed into it. The neighbor, a contractor, offered to fix the damage and gave me a card, but it doesn't include any references or a website to check his credentials. I'm unsure about the extent of the damage, but I've shared some photos. I've temporarily asked him to hold off on repairs until I gather more information. I'm wondering what the best steps are—should I get everything in writing, inform my insurance, file a police report, or handle it without involving the authorities since my neighbor was upfront about the situation?
3 Answers
First things first, ask your neighbor for his contractor license and proof of insurance. If he can't provide that, you definitely want to hire a licensed and insured contractor instead. It's super important to make sure whoever fixes your garage is qualified. Don't just take his word for it!
You should definitely contact both your insurance and your neighbor's insurance. This kind of situation usually falls under auto property damage liability, which means his auto insurance should cover it. It's usually cleaner and easier to go through the insurance companies from the start rather than dealing with cash or direct payments.
And I highly recommend you not get your insurance involved unless necessary, as it might increase your rates.
Exactly! Just make sure you have all the photos ready and any info he gives you. It might take a bit of time, but it's worth it.
I agree with the others, but I also think you should get a couple of repair quotes from other contractors before deciding who fixes it. Make sure they are bonded and insured too! You can take the highest quote to your neighbor and have him pay you directly, which keeps things simple and ensures you get a good job done.
Exactly! You shouldn't let him just fix it because you can't verify his work quality. Get a proper job done.
Good tip! But remember, not every area requires a contractor to be licensed. Definitely get his insurance details though!