Looking to make home improvements? Here’s how to avoid getting scammed by a contractor
Updated: 10:24 AM EDT Apr 7, 2022
EXPLAINS HOW TO AVOID SCAM CONTRACTS.OR BRIAN: ’TIS THE SEASON FOR MAKING HOME IMPROVEMENTS AND ALONG WITH IT COMES THE SEASON FOR SCAM CONTRACTO.RS BEFORE YOU HIRE A CONTRACTOR PUT IN THE WORK AND EFFORT TO FIND A REPUTABLCOE NTRACTOR. GET ESTIMATES AND IDEAS FROM AT LEAST THREE, AND AS MANY AS SIX DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS. THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF A FAIR PRICE RANGE. ASK FOR REFERENCES AND PICTURES OF JOBS THEY HAVE DONE. CONTACT THE PEOPLE THEY HAVE WORKED FORND A GO VISIT SOME OF THEIR JOB SITES. BAD CONTRACTORS WILL BE RELUCTANT STOHARE THIS INFORMATION AND SCAMMERS WON’T WAIT FOR YOU TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK. BEWARE OF CONTRACTORS WHO HAENPP TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR. GET A DETAILED, WRITTEN CONTRACT. A START DATE, PRICES, MATERIALS AND LABOR COSTS SHOULD BE PUT IN WRITING ALONG WITH ANY OTHER DETAILS YOU WANT. THOSE DETAILS AVOID SUDDEN ISSUES THAT RAISE THE PRICE. WORD OF MOUTH AND HANDSHAKE DEALS ARE ONE THING BUT IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT IN WRITING, YOU DON’T HAVE IT. THE QUICKER YOU MAKE A DECISION ON HIRING A CONTRACTOR, THE MORE YOU MAY COME TO REGRET IT. BRIAN ROCHE, ON YOUR SIDE, W
Looking to make home improvements? Here’s how to avoid getting scammed by a contractor
Updated: 10:24 AM EDT Apr 7, 2022
It’s the season for making home improvements and along with it comes the season for scam contractors.Protect yourself by putting in the time and effort to find a reputable contractor.Get estimates and ideas from at least three and as many as six different contractors. That should give you a good idea of a fair price range.Ask for references and pictures of jobs they have done. Contact the people they have worked for and visit some of their job sites. Bad contractors will be reluctant to share this information, and scammers won’t wait for you to do your homework.Beware of contractors who happen to “be in the neighborhood” and just knock on your door.Get a detailed, written contract. A start date, prices, materials and labor costs should be put in writing along with any other details you want. Those details avoid sudden issues that raise the price. Word of mouth and handshake deals are one thing, but if you don’t have it in writing, you don’t have it.The quicker you make a decision on hiring a contractor, the more you may come to regret it.
It’s the season for making home improvements and along with it comes the season for scam contractors.
Protect yourself by putting in the time and effort to find a reputable contractor.
- Get estimates and ideas from at least three and as many as six different contractors. That should give you a good idea of a fair price range.
- Ask for references and pictures of jobs they have done. Contact the people they have worked for and visit some of their job sites. Bad contractors will be reluctant to share this information, and scammers won’t wait for you to do your homework.
- Beware of contractors who happen to “be in the neighborhood” and just knock on your door.
- Get a detailed, written contract. A start date, prices, materials and labor costs should be put in writing along with any other details you want. Those details avoid sudden issues that raise the price. Word of mouth and handshake deals are one thing, but if you don’t have it in writing, you don’t have it.
The quicker you make a decision on hiring a contractor, the more you may come to regret it.
