Regrettably, in this day and age, we can’t trust everyone. If we are about to get work done on our homes, we need to be cautious. Home inspectors get to see the results of home repair scams, and we don’t want you to fall victim. What are some of the ways you can spot a dishonest tradesperson?
Scam artists will very often prey on the defenseless, such as the elderly or those that have experienced a disaster such as a flood or a hurricane. One example where a scam artist could try to con you, in a situation like this, is with your roof. You could be told you need to spend a lot of money for extensive roof repairs. In such a situation, observe how much the person actually looks at the roof. For instance, did they go up on the roof to look or did they diagnose the problem from the ground?
Another scam that you are likely aware of is a workman showing up at your door offering a low price to re-seal your driveway. Very often the worker will tell you they have left over materials from a job nearby. This may seem like a great deal at first, but you will quickly discover how bad of a job it was. In general, very low-quality materials are used.
When it comes to having HVAC or plumbing work done, what are some dishonest practices? Be wary of workers who want to charge you a lot of money to replace “broken parts”. Get them to show you where the parts are broken, and if they get replacement parts, make sure you have a look at them while they are still in their packaging, before they install them.
Watch out for dishonesty when getting painting done as well. Perhaps you will be told an expensive brand of paint will be used, but low-quality paint might have been poured into the expensive can. Make sure you know what kind of paint is being used. Remember, every scam artist has their tricks.
When hiring a contractor to do work for you, don’t hesitate to ask them questions about the job they are doing. It’s good to remember, that while we must be very cautious, there are honest tradespeople out there and they will be happy to answer your questions.