Seven Tips for Clean Gutters at a Fair Price
Tropical Storm Irene’s heavy wind and rain may have filled your gutters with leaves and debris.
With autumn’s leaf-fall still ahead, it would be wise to clean full or clogged gutters soon. Here are some things to know if you’re planning to hire someone to clean your home’s gutters.
Gutter cleaning is NOT considered home improvement under Connecticut law. However, gutter repair and installation IS considered home improvement.
Like everything else concerning your home, be choosy about whom you hire to clean your gutters. An inexperienced or careless cleaner could cause damage to your roof, gutters or downspouts.
An unscrupulous business could charge you too much or never do the job. As with anything else, know who you are hiring and be sure they have a good track record of honest, quality work.
1. First, don’t hire anyone selling gutter cleaning door to door. Always do your own careful research and planning before hiring anyone to work on your home.
2. Before hiring a gutter cleaning company, see if it’s reviewed on the Better Business Bureau’s website at www.ct.bbb.org. You may also see the number of complaints filed against the
company.
3. Get your price in writing, and make sure it applies to your specific type of house. Gutter cleaning on a large home, or one with a high roofline, often costs more. Have a company representative look at your house and give you a written quote.
4. Be clear with your expectations. Some companies just clear the debris and drop it on the ground for you to clean up. Others use a tarp, gather the debris from your gutters and take it away. Still others finish up with a high-power wash to clear out any remaining dirt and clogs.
5. Any company that you hire should have insurance to protect you and your home against possible damages caused by a worker. They also need Workman’s Compensation to protect you if a worker is injured on your property. Ask for, and wait to receive a copy of the company’s insurance policies before scheduling service. Examine and verify the policies with their
insurance agent before the work begins.
6. If possible, be home or arrange to have a family member of friend onsite when the cleaning is done to assure that the work is done to your satisfaction.
7. Never pre-pay for service, or provide a credit card number until after your service is fully completed.
