EL PASO, Texas -- Hiring a contractor to work on your home has become a difficult and scary decision for homeowners because we always here about contractors not finishing the work or just taking your money. It doesn't have to be that way.

It happened to Lupe Herrera. She wanted an addition to her home, but a few months into construction and $22,000 later, this is the end result.

"March was the last time he came. He got 3,000 and I never saw him again," said Herrera.

Herrera says Victor Luevano from Camino Real Homes started work at her west El Paso home in January. He started building an extension to the bedroom and two bathrooms, two months later, Luevano and his workers stopped showing up.

"I was very upset. I was very sad and upset because we really trusted him. He came and acted all friendly," said Herrera.

Herrera said Luevano came recommended. But when KFOX reporter Monica Balderrama did a search with the Better Business Bureau, she discovered he had an F rating. But when hiring a contractor searching in the BBB is not enough. Balderrama also did a criminal search by using the county of El Paso Web site. She discovered Luevano has two open warrants from the district attorney's office for theft over $1,500.

Balderrama went to the Camino Real Homes office on Trawood looking for answers but the office was closed.

KFOX tried calling Luevano but he hasn't returned our calls. And as for Herrera, she's looking for another contractor to finish the job Luevano started.

"What we want is for him not to take advantage of other people. Because we were willing and trusting," said Herrera.

Homeowners should also check to see if the contractor is insured and bonded. In this case, Luevano was insured and bonded, but when Herrera filed a complaint against him, she discovered there were two previous complaints against Luevano and nothing left in bond money.

Here are useful Web sites you search:

www.bbb.org

http://www.co.el-paso.tx.us/JimsSearch/CriminalRecordSearch.asp