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 The Better Business Bureau (BBB) would like to warn homeowners to be on the lookout for home improvement scams.
The spring thaw can lead to unscrupulous and unqualified people showing up to your home with offers to do everything from landscaping to roofing. Some may offer to pave your driveway with leftover materials, or even remodel your home for a low price. “Every spring homeowners are targeted by fly-by-night operators,” says Lynda Pasacreta, BBB President and CEO. “What may seem like a great deal could end up emptying your pockets.” Complaints about contractors to the BBB concern many problems, including high-pressure sales tactics, confusion over contract terms, poor workmanship, incomplete job performance, and overcharging the agreed upon price. Before you give any money to anyone or allow them into your home, BBB suggests: Name and location. Get the name and address of the company the vendor claims to represent. Put it in writing. Ensure all details and verbal promises are included in a contract. Review it and make sure that you understand everything in the document. Never sign a contract with sections left blank. Check for qualifications. Verify the individual is licensed, bonded, insured and has registered with WorkSafeBC (Workers’ Compensation Board). Price is not everything. Don’t always go for the lowest bid. If estimates for the same work vary widely, find out why. Sometimes unscrupulous operators may use sub-standard materials or take longer to finish the job. Make cheques payable to the company. Do not pay in cash and do not make cheques payable to an individual, only the company. Avoid "Bait and switch" tactics. Some disreputable companies will offer low prices for installing items like windows and home siding, but then come back later to the client saying the item is currently out of stock and can only be replaced with a high-priced substitute. Have everything in writing and know the terms in advance. Remember to cool off if there’s pressure. Do not be pressured by any person if you are unsure. Take the time to do your due diligence. If you did sign and would like change your mind, BC law states that if it was a door-to-door sales contract then you have 10 days to advise the company. Avoid crooked contractors by going to bbb.org for a Reliability Report. You will also find hiring tips and can request a job quote from BBB Accredited Businesses on our web site at www.bbb.org .
Sourced: BBB Serving the Lower Mainland, Thompson - Okanagan, Northern, Central and Southern Interior of B.C.
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