Tips to Avoid Home Contractor Scammers and How to Find a Trustworthy One

It doesn’t matter if your plan is to remodel your home completely or just want to carry out a few repairs, a home contractor can be of assistance. A home contractor possess the right skill-set and experience and expertise for any changes you will like to make in your house. But sadly there are a lot of home contracting scams today.

Scammers are fond of taking advantage of whoever is in search of a home contractor. What they do is offer you services of a contractor, ask you to make a deposit and the moment you pay they run away with your deposit. The really bad ones will go ahead and start the project, collect more than one payment and then go missing.

So the question now is, how does one get the right home contactor and not fall victim to scammers? It is not easy to differentiate between honest and dishonest home contractors. Here are some tips you can follow to help you find the best home contractor for your needs and to avoid being a victim of scammers.

Difference Between a General Contractor and a Home Builder

You will find that there are different kinds of contractors but the two kinds you will often hear about are general contractors and homebuilders. They may seem similar but these are two different crafts. A homebuilder’s expertise is centred around the construction aspect of the project while the general contractor is the organizer. The general contractor pays for the services of plumbers, flooring specialists and electricians, etc. and supervises the job.

Some homeowners don’t mind getting the services of both a general contractor and a homebuilder. But most people prefer to hire just a general contractor who can handle both tasks and has a team that can get the job done. As opposed to homebuilders, the specialty of general contractors is not construction or home improvement; their job is to ensure that the project is completed.

Take note of these following steps before you hire a contractor;

1. Ensure that the Licenses are Valid: after you have contacted a contractor, setup a meet so you can not only get to know him in person but also check if he is insured, has a license and is bonded. Don’t just accept whatever he says; ask to see his license and insurance information. Some states have a database of licensed contractors, so you can do a quick search to verify the validity of the contractor’s license information.
   
   Furthermore, some contractors only have certification in specific areas like construction or electrical. Different contractors have different licensing/certification, so it is important to check that the contractor you are thinking of hiring is licensed in the area that fits your project.
   
   
2. Get Recommendations: One popular method that these home contracting scammers use is by going from one house to another looking to see if you would need their services. Always avoid hiring such contractors; it is better to get recommendations from others that can attest to their service.
   
   You can mention to your friends or family that you are in need of a contractor, and if they can recommend anyone that has worked for them before. The Internet is another place you can look. However, be sure to check reviews, or complaints about the contractor you are considering hiring. You can also checkout the home improvement store around your residence and ask for recommendations there as well. Contractors would always visit such stores, and often times drop their contact information, so they can recommend to whoever needs their services.
   
   
3. Confirm the Insurance Coverage: During the meeting with the contractor you are considering to hire, find out if they have an insurance coverage. Do not assume they have one, and then ask to see their certificate of liability coverage. A contractor is required to have a general liability insurance that takes care of property damage or injuries.
   
   It is also advisable to ask the contractor if he is licensed and bonded. A license bond is like a guarantee from the insurance company that you are getting your money’s worth. The best thing you can do is hire a contractor who has a valid license, has insurance and a bond.
   
   Depending on your homeowner’s insurance isn’t a good idea when planning to do repairs or remodelling of your home. The homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover any damage that may be caused by a contractor. Majority of the companies consider this type of damage as intentional and will not cover it.
   
   
4. Do a Research on the Company and Check for any Past Legal Issues: after narrowing down your choices, the final step of your research should be to check if a contractor has had any legal issues in the past. This is very important and you can perform this research online. You do not want to hire a contractor who has a bad track record of having issues with clients.

Find the Perfect Contractor for Your Project

To own a home is a big deal, and for most peoples their biggest investment. Now, when you hire a contractor to do work in your home, you have automatically paced your biggest investment in their hands. Take your time, do your due diligence and you will most likely get the results you want.

When doing your research, ensure you compare between at least 3 or 4 options before you eventually decide. Compare their skills, experience, work ethics, etc.

With an online search you can find the best contractor in your area with ease. This is also the fastest way to discover the pros and cons that you should be aware of.

ADVERTISMENT

1. https://www.loghome.com/articles/builders-and-general-contractors

2.  https://www.houselogic.com/remodel/budgeting-contracting/top-5-contractor-scams-and-how-avoid-them/

3. https://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/10-ways-to-avoid-contractor-scams.aspx

4. https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/11-trusted-tips-to-avoid-a-home-improvement-scam/

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