Home Home

Avoid Home Improvement Scam Artist

Family-tips.info
Relationships24.info
Webmasters-xxl.com
Beautystar.info
Travel-tips.biz
 
How To Choose The Right Mattress For You And Family
There are many factors to consider when purchasing a mattress. Some of these factors include its firmness, the warrantee, reputation of the manufacturer and the size of the mattress. A good mattress will allow you to maintain the same natural spinal alignment that you have when standing. Why Mattress Is Important A bed mattre... Read more


 Home | Home

Avoid Home Improvement Scam Artist

This Home Article is Brought To You By - Shane Hester

Home improvement scams are most frequently put into operation through door-to-door contact with homeowners. Legitimate, home repair contractors reach potential customers through advertising or phone solicitation.

Be wary of any salesperson that comes to the door, and puts pressure on you to pay up front, or take the deal on painting or paving right now. These are common homeowner scams and tactics.

Do not pay upfront money to a contractor. Various state laws prohibit contractors from this kind of business transaction. A contractor must provide a service in order to receive consideration (payment).

Coming to your home to give an estimate or even entering into a contract with a homeowner, is not providing a service.

Once work has started and/or materials have been received, that is when a contractor has provided a service that constitutes a payment from the homeowner. And that payment should not exceed the percentage of the contract price that the work performed and/or materials received account for.

A contractor should establish a schedule of values for every project that list the value of each activity of the project, and the homeowners payment is made for the percent complete for each activity on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly bases, depending of the particular project. If a contactor is asking for upfront money, this is an indication of:

a. Inadequately trained management
b. Bad company business ethics
c. Lack of company working capital
d. History of low quality workmanship that has resulted in homeowner non-payment
e. A money scam that the homeowner will not be able to recover.

Resist being pressured into signing a contract with a contractor on their first visit. This is a tactic used by some contractors to keep homeowners from comparing them to another contractor and researching their history.

A quality contractor will be willing to make as many visits as necessary to assist a homeowner in their decision. Your home is the single largest investment you will ever make and a quality contractor will want you to be satisfied with the improvements they will be performing.

Con artists frequently zero in on low income people and seniors. They think these people are especially susceptible to high pressure tactics. These con artists are persuasive about unneeded or overpriced home improvement scams.

If a contract is signed, the homeowner may land in more trouble with a collaborating financial institution for refusing to pay for slipshod or unfinished work.

Law enforcement agencies and consumer groups are well aware of organized American Gypsies or Travelers. These are most likely the door-to-door salespeople for home repair scams that homeowners encounter.

These Travelers are organized, have new trucks and equipment with in or out-of-state license plates, and, if asked, provide in or out-of-state phone numbers and addresses.

Some of these groups have burglarized the homes of distracted owners, or have offered to drive an owner to the bank so the owner can remove money from an account.

So how do you select a contractor without being scammed?

Your first resource for a recommendation should be family, friends and neighbors who have had similar work done for them. A local flooring distributor or home improvement warehouse can also help you locate reputable contractors.

During the first meeting, it is a good idea to ask the contractor for other references you can contact. If they do not have any references, it would be a good idea to find a different contractor.

Another good place to locate a reputable home improvement or flooring contractor would be the manufacturers website or a distribution center. Manufacturers usually have strict rules for the contractors they recommend.

Plus, contractors listed on the manufacturers website or recommended through a distribution center, will usually take more care in their business dealings because they are subject to lose more than just a customer, they could lose their backing from the manufacturer if they do not fly straight.

The relationship you have with your contractor is an important one. You will want one who is qualified, capable and trustworthy. Here is a summary of suggestions:

1. Just ask. Word-of-mouth is the best advertising. Ask friends, neighbors and relatives. If there is a home you like with improvements similar to what you want in your neighborhood, ask the owners who did the work. Your local distributor will also have suggestions. Follow up on the leads they give you.

2. Take a look. Ask the flooring installer or contractor for before and after photos of their jobs. Ask for addresses of projects they have done in your area.

3. Get references. Before signing a contract, get the names of 3 or 4 of the contractors customers. Call and get their input. Also ask the contractor about awards or endorsements they may have received.

4. Check with the Better Business Bureau. If you have any concerns, call your local BBB. They will be able to tell you if any consumer complaints are on record.

  • Home Products on our marketplace

  • Shane Hester has been helping website owners increase online profits through exclusive webdesign and marketing services at WebFirstCreations. See his companies latest creation: FloorsToGo Flooring Store or contact him directly at WebFirstCreations.com.
    ***

  • Vegetable Gardens - Good Tasting and Good For You
    Vegetable gardening has become increasingly popular. Vegetable gardening can produce vegetables that are cheaper than those at the store, and they taste much better. Many people grow their own organic vegetables out of concern a...
  • If Youre Looking for Bedding, Think Pink
    If you have come to a point in your life that you want a serious relationship, I would strongly suggest that you think pink. This may sound strange to some of you, but I have discovered that the color pink has some interesting q...
  • Pros And Cons Of Bagless Vacuum Cleaners
    Every home with carpet needs a vacuum cleaner. The newest market differentiation is of bagless versus conventional vacuum cleaners. Conventional cleaners pull dirt and waste up from the floor and store it in a bag; this bag is t...
  • 7 Best Strategies To Sell Your House Fast
    With increasing interest rates, the housing market has turned buyer's market now. Higher interest rates mean that many buyers have pulled out of the market and decided to wait till interest rates come down. This also mean that i...
  • Keep Your Pool in Tip Top Condition all Year Around
    Taking care of your pool is vital, not just to keep it looking good, but also to make sure it's safe to swim in. To do that, you'll need a variety of pool supplies. You can choose from the absolute bare minimum for pool mainte...
  • Making the Most of Chinese Lanterns
    Once you've seen the fascinating light provided by a Chinese lantern, then you understand why they're so popular and well known. They produce a soft, diffused light that shines in all directions at once. Very few other lamps c...
  • © 2008 Article24.info All Rights Reserved.