by Courtney
Ronan
n the midst of natural
disasters, homeowners have occasionally found themselves the unwitting
victims of scam artists posing as home improvement specialists.
First-time homeowners also have fallen victim to such trickery. We've
all heard the stories of contractors who were consistently late, who
didn't show up one day, who made serious mistakes, or who didn't finish
the job. How do we locate reliable contractors? What red flags should
homeowners be looking for when they interview prospective home-repair
contractors?
Request for a hefty deposit up front.
When natural disasters strike, homeowners are vulnerable. Emotions are
running high, and skilled swindlers will play into that. They may claim
to have a particularly large amount of work on their plates at the
moment. However, they "sympathize" with your plight and will
temporarily put their other commitments on hold -- if you'll just put
down a large deposit beforehand. Many of us are so distracted by the
damage to our homes and the strong drive to "just fix it all" that
we're temporarily blinded by that request and are quite willing to slap
down large amounts of money before any contractor has even crossed the
threshhold of our homes. It's worth repeating: Don't pay until you see
the product.
Calling it a day long before it's time.
Contractors are strapped for time -- even the most dedicated
contractors. But the best contractors are those that manage to balance
their work-related demands and who are completely honest with their
clients in the event that they need to reschedule. Some dishonest
contractors, however, tell homeowners that they've done work that in
reality, they haven't completed -- in order to obtain the next
installment right away. Other contractors ask their clients for money
to buy the necessary materials, and then proceed to use the money to
back another project. Before the homeowner knows it, he's paid large
sums of money for the completion of a project that, in reality, is only
partially completed. The worst perpetrators are those who then fail to
show up to complete the job. They stop answering clients' phone calls,
and in the worst-case scenario, disappear altogether. Home improvement
experts suggest that homeowners take note if contractors routinely skip
days, show up late, or send only one employee out to the job site.
Those are all warning signs that the contractor might be facing serious
financial trouble for which you could end up paying if you're not
careful.
The product switcheroo.
Some contractors sell homeowners one type of product and then install
another inferior version. To prevent this from happening, make sure you
get the products in writing up front. If a contractor experiences a
memory lapse and can't seem to remember which brand of product he's
going to use on your remodeling project, don't sign anything until he
writes it down and you agree to it. If you sign a vague contract that
fails to mention product brands and models, you're leaving yourself
open to the installation of inferior materials. Some contractors claim
it's not their policy to write that information down. In that case,
find yourself another contractor. On many occasions, the materials
contractors use is out of the homeowner's sight -- such as wiring or
roofing materials. We're asked to trust the contractor, who possesses
the knowledge that we don't have. Get it writing; that's your best
defense.
What a deal!
The old adage applies here: If it sounds too good to be true, it is too
good to be true. Be on your guard. This business is competitive, and
incredibly low estimates are a warning sign that getting your business
is probably the contractor's only priority. If the bid you receive is
50 percent less than the competition, you should question it. While you
may receive a low bid, the contractor could then add materials that
should have been included in your original bid. He could also begin
marking up materials costs like a madman and take quality shortcuts
whenever he can. The homeowner ends up with a homeremodeling project
that cost him well above what was quoted in the bid. Worse yet, both
the materials used and the workmanship are shoddy.
I didn't notice when we started, but ....
Most homeowners are at a disadvantage when it comes to home remodeling
projects. We don't understand the nuts and bolts, the lingo, the job
requirements. So we trust contractors who tell us that some
unanticipated extra work came up on our projects for which we'll have
to pay extra. Unless, of course, we want a substandard project, in
which case our homes might collapse. Watch out for contractors who tell
you the job just can't be done right unless they add A, B, and C, which
will cost you X, Y, and Z. Such contractors are supplying their crew
with busy work which ups your costs. Contractors worth their salt will
alert you before the project begins of the potential problems they
could encounter, and how much those could cost you above the original
bid.
Sheer intimidation.
The worst scammers are those who use intimidation. They get homeowners
to sign binding contracts, then raise their prices and scare their
clients into thinking that they'll simply walk off the job unless they
agree to their terms (read: more money). The elderly and first-time
homeowners are particularly vulnerable to such tactics. Many homeowners
are frightened by the contractor's threats of a lawsuit or sabotage and
pay up because they don't want confrontation. The best advice here is
to ask around for recommendations from friends and co-workers before
you begin any home-improvement project.
A final tip:
Be adamant about receiving references from your prospective contractor,
and always, always, get everything in writing. A contractor who values
the opportunity to work with you (and who would like you to recommend
him to your friends) will be happy to spend the time writing down every
detail of the job. Once the deal is signed, keeping the lines of
communication open with your contractor will help ensure that you have
a positive home-remodeling experience.