With warmer weather coming up, people become more motivated to make improvements to their homes.
Unfortunately, this also brings about shady characters who are looking to take advantage of those desiring to make those improvements. This makes springtime the peak season for home improvement scams, according to Stacy Cohen of Consumer Affairs.
Houselogic.com notes that Americans spend $500 billion a year on remodeling and home improvement projects. With all this money being thrown around in the industry, it is important to be careful of those who are looking to take advantage of consumers who aren’t as educated.
Here are a few tips to make sure that you are scammed by contractors:
- Watch for people who “need the money up front.” You may have a contractor that may ask for 30-50% of the project costs right away. Then, the contractor may either do a poor job or leave you high and dry. It is always best to never prepay more than 10 percent of the job cost and for some states that is the legal maximum.
- Watch for people who “happen to be in the area.” These contractors simply just show up to your door. Some may say they have leftover material and would like to help you out. Or they may try to point out problems with your home and tell you they can offer you a “good deal” on repairs. Always check on references on any contractor before you decide to hire them for a job.
- Make sure you get everything in writing. You may tell your contractor the exact specifications you want, but make sure that it is included in the contract agreement. Sometimes contractors also throw in extras that you may not have discussed in the contract. Make sure that everything you agreed upon is in writing.
Overall, make sure that you fully prepare yourself and do your homework before taking on a home remodeling project. And if you are looking for a reputable and reliable source for home repair, handyman services or installations, give us a call at Bauer Construction. We’ve been in the business of helping customers with hassle-free and high quality remodeling and repair since 2006. Our team of experts stand behind the work we perform, and will ensure that you are satisfied with your results. Give us a call today at 847-553-5331, and let us take care of your needs. No job is too big or too small for Bauer Construction.