If your home floods, you might wonder how much it will cost to clean it up - and whether you're getting scammed.
"We do see cases of price gouging in situations like this and businesses taking advantage of consumers needing work done," said Bess Ellenson with the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota.
Ellenson says that's why it's important to do your homework before hiring someone, no matter how eager you may be to clean up the water.
Here are some other tips from the Better Business Bureau, in case you have flooding this spring:
1. Get quotes from multiple companies.
It's tough to know for sure how much a job will cost, because it can vary widely depending on what you need done.
For example, according to HomeAdvisor, the average cost nationwide to install and replace a sump pump is $1,153. However, that cost can range anywhere from $275 to $3,400.
One homeowner told KARE 11 the initial estimate she received to clean up flooding in her home was three times as much as the company she ended up hiring.
"Compare them (the estimates) all and make sure their prices are broken down the same way," Ellenson said. "That's a big thing we see is people aren't comparing prices on the same level, so make sure you get a breakdown of what exactly this estimate is for."
2. Watch out for companies asking you to pay a lot of money up front.
"If they're asking you to pay a huge amount in advance, you definitely want to be cautious of that, get it all in writing, get what this amount is going to cover," Ellenson said.
One business owner told KARE 11 it's typical to ask for 25 to 50 percent of the total cost in advance. You might want to reconsider if it's anything more than that.
3. Check to see if a business is licensed.
The BBB says contractors in Minnesota have to be licensed with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. You can check to see if a company is licensed on the department's website.
4. Check their Better Business Bureau rating.
But a heads up about that - the Bureau says just because a company has an A-plus rating, doesn't necessarily mean they're the ones you should hire.
They say the A-plus rating is a reflection of the company's customer service in responding to comments on the website, both good and bad, and isn't necessarily a reflection of the quality of their service.
You can visit the BBB's website here.