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Summer is a season with many advantages and disadvantages. The weather warms up and the flowers bloom. It’s a great time for outdoor activities. Unfortunately, it’s also the time of year when insects, rodents, and other pests come out to test your patience.

Like other unwanted pests, summer is also the season for home-improvement scammers. They go door-to-door, usually targeting the elderly offering services that range from roof repair work to driveway sealing and everything in between. They use high pressure sales tactics to get homeowners to sign bad contracts. Even worse they might take money and leave and do very little, if any work at all. Here are a few tips homeowners can follow to avoid these kinds of home improvement scams.

Initiate the search

Most professional, qualified contractors keep pretty busy handling projects they were hired to do. They don’t typically go out door-to-door looking for work. A good rule of thumb is to initiate the search for a contractor. If they’re coming to you telling you that you need to have certain work done, that’s a red flag.
Every now and then, during a slow period, a reputable business may send people door-to-door. Look for a company logo on their vehicle or clothing then check to see if they have a brick and mortar location and an established reputation in the community.

Research the contractor

You can always do a little investigative work on your own. Ask the contractor for references and check them out. Use online resources like Angie’s List and the Better Business Bureau to see if they have a good track record. Verify that they are licensed to do the work and that they have insurance.

Never pay cash up front

Reputable contractors will never ask for 100% up-front payment. If a contractor insists on you paying up front, especially if they insist on cash, don’t agree to it. Typically, paying a third up front, another third during, and the final third upon satisfactory completion of the project is a good way to protect yourself. Pay with credit cards or checks rather than cash if possible.

Beware of contractor financing

If the work you’re having done does need to be financed, secure your own financing. Often, when contractors suggest a certain lender, it’s because they get some kind of kickback in return for getting you to borrow from them. There are usually better financing options than what the contractor recommends.

Insist on a written contract

Never settle for a handshake and a verbal agreement. Always get a contract in writing and look over it carefully before signing and agreeing to any work. Make sure that the contract details which materials will be used, when the project is set to begin and end, and what it’s expected to cost.

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Source: islandpacket.com/2015/07/16/3839021/money-tips-be-on-the-lookout-for.html