Weather is Warming Up – So is Contractor Fraud- ConstructionConfidant.Com Offers Scam Tips
Warmer weather means bad contractors will be out in full force. Here are our top tips to protect themselves.
West Haven, CT – April 11, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Every year complaints against contractors pour into State and Federal Consumer Complaint Agencies and the BBB. As a matter of fact, according to the 2010 Annual Consumer Complaint Survey contractorsranked numbers 3 & 6 out of all complaints. The economy is compounding the problem. Contractors desperate for work with unscrupulous morals are taking advantage of customers at an alarming rate, and with budget cuts across the board, the agencies that service consumers don’t have the resources required to be effective. ConstructionConfidant.Com says research shows that the people that are at the greatest risk are senior citizens, single women, and anyone that lives in an area were a natural disaster or bad storms have taken place.
Fraudulent contractors know that home owners are desperate to get their homes back in order fast and are more prone to making rash decisions.
ConstructionConfidant.Com offer these tips to help inform homeowners.
Always insure your contractor has the appropriate licenses/registrations and insurances. Remember a business license is not a contractors license.
Never give in to high pressure salesman or door to door salesman. If one shows up at your door, it’s not your lucky day. Remember good contractors are busy and don’t have time to go door to door.
Never pay cash for anything. Money orders are cash. Always make sure checks are made out to business name, not a person.
Ask for references, and check them!
Never let anyone into your home or on your roof unsolicited.
While these tips are good, most home owners are at a severe dis-advantage when it comes to hiring a contractor. They simply don’t have the tools required to deal with contractors effectively. Readers are welcome to visit ConstructionConfidant.com for information and other tips on how to protect themselves.
About Tina Chamberland
Tina Has been educating the public about Contractor Fraud for years, and has just started a weekly blog found at ConstructionConfidant.Com
