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.
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.
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