Contractor Scams: How to Avoid

Avoid scams contractors depends on knowing when the offer is too good to be true. Here are some of the most common fraudulent home repairs and how to avoid them.

Free Inspection. This is probably the biggest home improvement scams around. Contractor advertises "free, no obligation" inspection of your home, and show all and shined and polished for examination results. The result, however, is always the same:

"Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner:

I'm afraid I have bad news: your house is about to collapse into ruin, and you'll do XYZ repairs as soon as possible. Luckily for you, we are running a special master XYZ today, and if you'll just sign here on the dotted line that we can start immediately. '

Alt = How to Avoid Scams Home Improvement Contractors

This approach is common with roofers always find the bad shingles, waterproofing company that you notify your base will collapse if you do not sign up for expensive sump pumps, and more.

In New Jersey, home repair contractor perform a free inspection recently accused of fraud. "Games" His will check a crawl space, telling homeowners he found a big problem that really does not exist, and then the cost to repair. Since most victims are senior citizens, they are not physically able to go crawl space to check for themselves.

Always remember the old adage: there is no such thing as a free lunch. Contractor to conduct a free search for a reason to sell something, whether you need it or not. When one of the following, tell them "no thanks!"

Reproduction: Some home improvement companies offer deals seem good for the privilege of getting to your house to see what other work they can generate. The "multiply" the number of sales that they can do.

Chimney Sweeping is really famous for this type of contractor fraud. They offer a $ 50 chimney cleaning special, and almost always find that you need some kind of repair involves additional cost. A New Jersey homeowners responded to an ad for a chimney cleaning contractors low cost only said he needed Chimney Liner $ 3.500. Chimney company told him his home may be burnt if it is not immediately installed. Liner Further investigation revealed there and it works perfectly.

So be careful with the contractor was trying to "peddle fear" expensive repairs. Always get a second opinion from an unbiased source, such as a professional home inspector, before authorizing the work.

Limited offer: Remember the old TV commercial late warning "call before midnight"? Salespeople have a lot of tricks you think that the offer will be lost if you do not make a quick decision. Many now maybe tomorrow a lot, so do not be bullied into making a hasty decision you may later regret.

Apples and oranges: When shopping for any product or service repair at home, be careful to always compare apples to apples. Some contractors will offer cheaper prices and switch products to save money. For example, if you plan to install new windows, decide which brand you want to buy and then all potential installation contractors to bid on the same product. Do not be tempted by the lower prices, always ask yourself what the contractor to leave.

In-house sales: Some home improvement contractors will do anything to get into your living room to make a sales pitch. They know a strong possibility that you will make the decision to buy if they stay around long enough.

In recent trade show for home owners, I pretended to be interested in the gutter guard products to test the company's sales pitch. The salesman said he could not give an estimated cost for the product until it Even when I pressed him to describe the house as a rural 60-foot-long typical "look at the work." Front and rear gutters and spouts four (about drainage works easiest way I can think of ), he still does not give an answer!

To avoid contractor scams, stay away from companies like this. The price for a basic service contractors should not be called sticking your foot in the door. If you make a buying decision in a hurry and have second thoughts, remember that most states have a mandatory three-day "cooling off" period during which you can cancel the contract without liability of any home improvement.

If you are ever unsure about the need for repairs or estimates will provide a second opinion from an expert, such as an objective professional home inspector can be worth its weight in gold, and a great way to prevent contractor fraud.

Leading a small corporate finance

WITH the unemployment life has become a hot topic right now, especially given fresh jitters about unpaid work placement scheme that the Government Features so heavily in the media, it is time that the North East will have to host a national Pinnacle Community Development Finance Association (CDFA), the parent body of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in February.

CDFA established in the last decade for the work Gordon Brown as Chancellor.

The purpose of this organization is to provide public financing, especially in poor areas, to help tackle the unemployment life.

The CDFIs aim is to provide funding for people to go into business for yourself, broader reason is that by using the money to fund the CDFI business, one can see the self-employed as a real alternative to unemployment life.

The event, hosted by Dickinson Dees, steeped in secrecy as the meeting was held "in camera", but given the recent press coverage about the new super-CDFA Government funding worth tens of millions of pounds and the proximity of the peak to the positive news generated by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), you might be forgiven for thinking that there may be some good news on the horizon of a new microfinance initiative not too long.

In fact, anyone familiar with how to use the Regional Growth Fund will know again is not allowed publication until all details are agreed.

So for once, speculation on what was discussed at the summit can not be just rumor but hopefully it can be an indicator that the announcement about microfinance initiatives made as early as Easter.

This is a great victory for the North East to host the meeting and the timing could not be better. Just two weeks before the CBI has organized a visit by the vice president of Dame Helen Alexander. Part visiting look at access to finance for small businesses.

After lively debate, Dame Helen is left with the clear impression that the North East is leading the way and microfinance initiatives by hosting one of the micro finance key national organizations in the region two weeks of consultation CBI, this can only serve to reinforce this message.

Muckle LLP took two new attorneys

COMMERCIAL law firm Muckle LLP extends its services team by recruiting two new lawyers.

Cambridge University law graduate Frances Barker joined the Newcastle-based firm of Eversheds LLP, Newcastle. Before that he trained and worked at Addleshaw Goddard LLP in Leeds, where he specializes in employment law, providing legal assistance and advice to clients including British Airways and Wolseley.

He said: "I am delighted to join a forward thinking company that puts an emphasis on excellent customer service. One of the areas I work most visitors give advice work for corporate transactions. Muckle has a very good reputation for handling procurement and sales company, so I look forward to working with many transactions.

"I was also a guest on providing companies with strategic advice on managing employees and avoid potential misunderstandings job."

Siobhan Howard-Palmer law also joined the team to work as a lawyer in an international law firm, Kennedys in Sheffield. Siobhan brings a different mix of Muckle dispute resolution experience includes health and safety advice and legal work experience.

Howard Palmer also has a personal passion for the work pro bono and in 2008 won the Junior Lawyers Division Pro Bono Award for his work. He is also partly responsible for setting up the scheme # pro for junior lawyers when he coached Halliwells and free legal aid and advice to many organizations including youth centers, women's centers and Citizens' Advice Bureau.

He said: "Moving to the North East of Sheffield is a big step for me personally but I really want to work for Muckle.

"This company is really genuine and really care about the client, his own people and the local community. This ethos and high quality of work that makes me interested Muckle.

The "Muckle Like, I strongly believe in giving something back to the community and I put my name forward for the team involved in the company."

Chris Maddock, head of the working group ministry at Muckle LLP, said: "I really want to see two enthusiastic, skilled people in the company.

"We pride ourselves on providing the best advice and service to our clients, and we do have some of the nicest people to work here. I'm sure Siobhan and Frances were guests in working with our clients and leave a long and successful career at Muckle LLP. '