1. Be wary if they approach you.

A good contractor is someone that you approach for help when you are ready to hire someone. A bad contractor will typically seek you out first. Unless you know the person or they are well respected in the community, be very wary if someone approaches you and recommends improvements that need to made to your house. Most scam artists will use this approach, and it works quite well for them.

2. Ask to see references – and then follow up.

Just getting references from a contractor is not enough to prove they are legitimate. You’ll need to follow up on each one of those references to ensure that you are dealing with someone that is above board. Be advised however that it is all too easy to get family and friends to act as a reference, so this strategy can backfire.

3. Check with the BBB.

The Better Business Bureau is a great place to start if you are trying to find out if a company is legitimate. Call them up or visit them online and enter in all the information you have on a contractor. If you see complaints, do not hire them. Again, this is not a 100% effective strategy, since scam artists usually change company names and phone numbers, it is an important step to take.

4. Check with your neighbors.

It is common that scam artists will try to hit as many people in one neighborhood as possible. Check with your neighbors to see if they have been contacted as well. Successful contractors generally don’t need to drum up business, especially using these methods.

5. Ask to see their licensing.

Most states require contractors to be licensed. If your contractor refuses to provide this information, you definitely have a problem on your hands. Don’t pay anyone until they have given you enough evidence that they are a licensed contractor and capable of doing the work.

By taking the time to be careful, to follow up on references and to be wary, you can be assured that your risks of getting scammed are much less. While no method is perfect, the best defense is simply to say “No,” to anyone that you don’t know that offers to fix your house. This can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of heartache.

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Originally posted 2008-11-27 05:41:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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1. Are they licensed?

The average handyman won’t have a license, but commonly, contractors will need to be licensed and certified. It is a good idea to ask them for their qualifications and find out if they are licensed in your state. This can be very helpful when you are trying to pass an inspection after the work is done. A qualified contractor will already know everything that needs to be completed to pass that inspection.

2. How do they calculate pricing?

Most contractors should offer you a free estimate of the work that will need to be done. However, this estimate may be completely off depending on the availability of materials or if anything goes wrong. It is important to find a contractor that will offer you a guarantee of some sort, or at least some sort of pricing threshold. If they won’t you will need to make sure that they come to you for approval for anything that will put you over your budget. Staying on budget isn’t easy, but it helps when the contractor is working in your corner.

3. Do they have a particular specialty?

General contractors can usually do a variety of different tasks, but that doesn’t mean that they should. For example, if you need help with your wiring, it may be best to hire an electrician, rather than a general contractor. It is a good idea to make sure that they are qualified to handle the exact job you need done. You can save a lot of time and heartache by going through this step first.

4. How do they plan to stay on schedule?

Repairs and renovations can take months to complete and it is vital to find a contractor that can stay on schedule. Try to get as firm of a completion date is possible and then ask them what they will do if they go over on that time period. These extra days, weeks or months can completely destroy your budget, so it is very important to find out how well they work on a schedule.

5. Do they have references?

A good contractor will be more than willing to provide you with references. You need to follow up on these and make sure that the homeowners are happy and satisfied with the work. Some may even allow you to see the work that was done so you can form your own opinion on the quality of the job.

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Originally posted 2008-08-25 05:26:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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