contact: paul@bhka.com
February 2010
Beware of home improvement fraud
Spring is just around the corner, and perhaps this year you've decided to pull out the stops and plunge into that big remodeling project. Or maybe your home just needs a little TLC, like patching the old chimney, resealing the driveway, or repainting the siding. Unfortunately, con artists, like weeds among the flowers, also seem to poke their heads above ground in the springtime. As the weather gets warmer, tricksters often ramp up their efforts to defraud homeowners. Before parting with your hard-earned cash, watch for the following warning signs:
- A contractor shows up on your doorstep, offers to provide a free inspection, then gives you a list of expensive repairs that you don't need.
- Someone who claims to be working "just a few blocks over" on another project offers to paint your house, seal your driveway, repair your chimney, or undertake some other home repair project at a greatly-reduced price. Of course he requires a "good faith deposit" and says he'll start work the next day.
- The contractor pressures you. Maybe he talks fast to confuse you or uses scare tactics — "Your foundation will fail soon! This is a one-time discount!" — to force an immediate decision.
- He refuses to furnish a contractor's license, won't give references, or balks at providing proof of bonding insurance.
According to the FBI, there are over 14,000 scam artists at work on any given day. Perhaps the information presented here will help you avoid becoming a victim. If you have questions, please call us. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it may well be a scam.
When considering a particular home repair or remodel contractor, follow these fraud prevention tips:
- Get referrals. Family, friends, and neighbors often provide great insight into the quality of a contractor's work. If they've been dissatisfied with the contractor's prior jobs, look elsewhere.
- Check out the business. How long has this firm been located in the area? Have any customers logged complaints against the company with the Better Business Bureau? Does the firm have a current contractor's license?
- Get copies of insurance documents. It's perfectly acceptable to ask a contractor to provide copies of these important documents. After all, if the contractor is not properly insured, you may face a lawsuit if someone gets injured on the job.
- Put it in writing. The contract between you and the firm should include a payment schedule, start and completion dates, total cost of materials and labor, and details about handling contract revisions.
Take these reasonable precautions and fraudsters won't sidetrack your remodeling project.
