Don’t Get Scammed—Hire with Confidence

(Cleveland) -- Homeowners can rest easy when hiring a NARI contractor.  Each member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry pledges to observe high standards of honesty, integrity and responsibility in the conduct of business.  Sadly there are many unscrupulous contractors in the field and the Better Business Bureau has been a longtime partner with NARI to help educate the public on this issue.

Home improvement scams:
Use caution when hiring a home improvement contractor, especially following a major storm, flood or weather event when many individuals are trying to repair their homes. However, contractor scams can happen anytime, so be wary of high-pressure sales tactics, upfront fees and fly-by-night businesses. Con artists will take homeowners' money and deliver (or not deliver) less than quality work

How the scam works:

Home improvement scams can start with a knock on the door, a flier or an ad. The contractor may offer a low price or a short timeframe. One common hook is when the scammer claims to be working in your neighborhood on another project and has leftover supplies.   Once started, a rogue contractor may "find" issues that significantly raise the price. If you object, they threaten to walk away and leave a half-finished project. Or they may accept your upfront deposit and never return to do the job. Following a natural disaster, scammers persuade homeowners to sign over their insurance payment.

Tips to spot this scam:

• Watch out for "red flags." Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, high upfront payments, handshake deals without a contract and on-site inspections. Not all "storm chasers" are con artists, but enough are that you should be cautious any time a home contractor contacts you first.
• Ask for references and check them out. Bad contractors will be reluctant to share this information and scammers won't wait for you to do your homework. Get references from past customers, check on the quality of the work. Always get a written contract with the price, materials and timeline. The more detail, the better.
• Know the law. Work with businesses that have proper identification, licensing and insurance. Confirm that your vendor will get related permits and ensure you know who is responsible according to your local laws.

The 2023 NARI Home Improvement Show will feature dozens of award-winning contractors all under one roof September 29 to October 1 at the IX Center.  Tickets are $15.00 and available at www.narihomeshow.com 

Contact: Ed “Flash” Ferenc:  216 789 2597   djbflash@aol.com