Avoid Being Scammed by Contractors
Most Contractors are honest, hard working people who can be relied upon to help you with repairs or upgrades to your home. On the other hand most of us have heard the horror stories of people losing thousands of dollars when a contractor skips town after completing only a portion, or none, of the promised work. Here are some tips to help you to avoid a possible nightmare.
1.Check out the reviews of the person or company before scheduling them to do work.
Not all contractors have a huge on-line presence, but it should not be impossible to find information about them either. If you are like us, you read multiple reviews before buying a $20 pair of headphones. Why not do the same for a contractor who will be in or around your home?
- Do not agree to pay a large portion of the quote up-front.
Unscrupulous people have less of an incentive to do a good job, on-time, and completely if they have already been paid most of the money. If the contractor is seeking money to qualify a customer before scheduling work, a deposit of the lesser of 10% or $1000 should be enough to establish that you are serious.
- Be suspicious of someone asking you to write a big check for materials.
Many of the contractors we have spoken with say that they don’t need client money to buy supplies or tools. The contractor should have sufficient funds in reserve to buy the needed items for most projects, but if you are trying to get all fancy with a golden throne in the bathroom that might not be the case.
- DO NOT just take their word for it.
Get everything in writing, including: specifications, time frames, extra touches, and possible recourse for straying too far off budget or schedule. Without these there is no legal obligation for them to keep their promises.
We love contractors. Some of our family members and favorite people are included in their ranks. They would be the first to tell you to be careful. As with many professions it is the bad ones that spoil it for the rest. We don’t all have the time or skill to the things that need to be done around and inside of our homes. Keep the steps above in mind and your experience will most likely be a great one.
