With the severe damage caused by the recent Hurricane Irene, many homeowners and possibly desperate landlords are looking to fix their property damage very quickly. Unfortunately, this urgent environment invites unethical scam artists so use caution when hiring someone to help fix your property damage.
Here are some tips from the Better Busines Bureau on avoiding home repair scams:
1. Do not hire “storm chasers.” These are home repair people who specifically prey on those hit hard by weather-related incidents. They often don’t have an established, local business, will most likely appear on your doorstep uninvited in an unmarked car or truck, and will often ask to be paid upfront. Avoid hiring anyone who uses hard sell tactics or whose promise sounds too good to be true.
2. Do not pay for the entire job upfront. It’s customary for a contractor to require a one-third deposit on a job, specifically to reserve the time and to purchase supplies. But anything more than that could indicate a scam. Your last payment should be reserved for when the job is completed and meets your expectations.
3. Despite your urgency to get your property fixed, always get multiple quotes. Asking for quotes from multiple contractors will give you a good indication of who’s competitive with their pricing.
Before paying anyone, ask each bidding company if they are licensed and bonded and if they will be doing the work or if it will be outsourced. Also ask if they have experience with fixing your particular problem.
For those not affected by the hurricane, now is the time to prepare a list of contractors and start networking with them. Ask about their specialities and how quickly they might be available if you had an emergency. Also ask for a list of references and call them!
No one wants to have unexpected property damage but having a list of trusted contractors on hand will help alleviate your stress during an emergency situation.
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