BBB says hire a licensed, insured, and bonded contractor with a great reputation
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
San Juan County residents are dealing with catastrophic flooding that has caused widespread damage, leaving homes uninhabitable and prompting warnings about potential contractor scams during recovery efforts.
On October 23, San Juan County resident Zayra Rivera returned home to find her floors submerged in several inches of water.
“As soon as I open the door, a bunch of water, mud everywhere. My furniture was destroyed. I walked into my closet. A lot of my clothes was on the floor,” Rivera said.
A few miles away, the home of Rhonda and Dave Schaefer was also completely flooded.
Photos from inside their home reveal extensive damage, making the property unlivable. Both Rivera and the Schaefers are now searching for contractors to help with repairs, but they expressed concerns about potential scams.
“We understand there’s a lot of, you know, fly-by-night companies that come into the community in situations like this. And you just have to be a good consumer,” said Dave Schaefer.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises residents to hire licensed, insured, and bonded contractors to avoid falling victim to scams.
The Better Business Bureau is encouraging residents to visit their website, BBB.org, to conduct a simple search.
“So our businesses of course are rated from A+ to an F being the worst, A+ being the best. So definitely when you’re looking at business profiles, look at their letter grade ratings,” said Austin Calabaza BBB Community Outreach Coordinator.
The BBB also recommends requesting multiple quotes from contractors, asking for references, and securing a written contract that includes a clear timeline for the work and payment schedule.
If residents suspect they are being targeted by a scam, the BBB urges them to report it.
“It’s a free resource that allows us to field those reports, and then share that with applicable media and or law enforcement,” said Calabaza.
