BBB TIP: As Spring Arrives, So Do Home Improvement Scams
Salt Lake City, UT — Homeowners trusting their contractors is more important than ever. As spring arrives, home improvement scams start to surface, threatening to take thousands of dollars from unsuspecting homeowners. Whether you’re remodeling your home, making needed repairs, or sprucing up your house to put it on the market, Better Business Bureau has tips to keep you safe from scammers and get the most out of your money.
Determine if you can DIY or if you should go with a contractor.
The best way to keep from getting scammed by a contractor (or pretend contractor) is to Do It Yourself. If time and motivation are no problem for you, you may be able to tackle some basic home improvement projects on your own. However, some require further expertise. If you don’t have a background in construction, it’s usually best to hire a contractor to help with larger projects such as plumbing, tiling, tree removal, exterior painting, and general remodels.
Do your research and come up with a budget.
Home improvement projects can get expensive, fast. Research several different businesses, and look at market costs for the project you’re considering. Get multiple quotes from contractors. Be upfront with contractors you hire about how much you can spend on a project as well. Know what costs you’ll be responsible for, like certain types of building permits.
Not only will this help you create a realistic budget, but it will also help you from falling victim to “too good to be true” offers from scammers. Never be pressured into hiring the first person to speak with you. Comparing pricing and services is a critical step.
Properly vet contractors before you hire.
Even if the price is right, don’t hire a contractor before doing some research. Ask the contractor to provide references. Look up their name or company name online and pay close attention to any reviews or complaints from previous customers. Verify that the contractor is licensed and insured, and get an estimate and contract in writing. Read contracts carefully before you sign them.
Be patient—but not too patient.
BBB has seen increased consumer interest in home improvement projects, including roofing, contractors, and remodelers.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is keeping many people closer to home, working from home, and tackling long-overdue projects,” said Jane Rupp, President and CEO of BBB Serving Northern Nevada and Utah. “If you didn’t start a project, I’ll bet you know more than one person who did.”
And where there’s money, there are scammers. Many businesses will take time to recover from the pandemic—a process that won’t stop even after vaccines have rolled out and restrictions are all but gone.
“One of the things people are encountering is not being able to get bids because reputable businesses are busy,” said Rupp. In this market, it’s not uncommon to have a call back take a while, or to schedule jobs weeks out. Delays due to COVID-19 or market demand are understandable, and even to be expected. But scammers and bad businesses will use those delays to string you along, or tempt you to choose them because they offer such seemingly quick turnaround times. Rupp said there’s a middle line between endless delays and quick fixes:
“Settling for a business just because they will come out is a recipe for disaster.”
Know scammer tactics.
Stay alert to suspicious behavior on the part of “home improvement specialists.” Red flags include not putting things into writing, demanding payment upfront, unexpected price changes, high-pressure sales tactics, unsolicited free inspections (that usually reveal the need for an urgent repair), and cash-only deals.
William Harper of Cache County, Utah lost $4,000 for a supposed cabinet build.
“We gave a $4000 deposit, and were promised cabinets in 3 months,” Harper told BBB. When that didn’t come, and after many failed promises, he finally convinced the scammer to write him a check for the $4000 deposit—only the bank wouldn’t accept it. Harper hasn’t heard from the scammer since.
Last year, one Box Elder County man paid $210 to have a custom piece of furniture created and installed into their home.
“We gave him the money upfront and he promised five different times to finish by a certain date,” he said to BBB. Eventually, the scammer stopped answering his phone and the consumer found himself at the year mark from the purchase with nothing to show for it.
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If you were scammed by a contractor, or want to report a bad business, file a complaint on BBB.org or send in a report to BBB’s Scam Tracker.
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About BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. In 2020, people turned to BBB more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org. Today, BBB serving Northern Nevada and Utah is supported by nearly 4,000 Accredited Businesses that have voluntarily committed to adhere to BBB’s Standards for Trust.
