Q: How do I avoid being scammed by my contractor?

Tags: scams contractor deposits

Donald O from
O'Brien & Sons Construction
Burlingame, CA

A:

Do your homework. Know who you're hiring. The only way to guarantee a construction projects meets the homeowner’s expectations in terms of professional know-how, quality service and commitment to completion dates is to hire a reputable contractor and sign a written contract. A reputable contractor should come highly recommended and have a list of satisfied customers available for reference.

Damien C from
Moonworks Home Improvement
Woonsocket, RI

A: Tips on hiring trust worthy contractors

Be sure to see if they are BBB (Better Business Bureau) accredited
Check their website. Nice websites require a substantial investment. A scammer usually will not spend the time or money to get one running.
Look up how long they have been in business.
Make sure you get everything in writing.
Be sure to ask for their insurance information as well as their contractor licenses

www.moonworkshome.com

Bobby A from
Andruszko Painting LLC
Beaverton, OR

A: 15 questions and 5 tips before you hire a contractor read this!

Here are 15 questions you ought to ask a licensed contractor before you hire them.and 5 tips to help you decide if the contractor is right for you.

Visit my website for more information
www.andruszkopainting.com

Tip 1: The State of Oregon CCB recommends getting your contractual agreement in writing. Always get a copy of the contractor’s CCB card that they should carry with them at all times. Make two copies of the contract, make sure all of the required CCB notices are included, dated and signed on both copies of the contract.

Ask The Painting Contractor some of the following questions:
• What professional recommendations can you make for my project?
• What do you recommend needs to be done for my project?
• What areas need the most attention and what do you see as the most challenging aspect of this project?
• How long will the job take from start to finish?
• How will adverse weather conditions affect the project quality?
• What materials do you recommend? Paint, Caulking, Primer, Scraping & Sanding?
• What about doors? How will you prep and paint them? What type of paint & primers will you use?

Tip 2: You should always ask open ended questions. You'll find out what the contractor really knows when you require him/her to explain things to you.

• Do you ever mix water into the paint or do you use products such as Penetrol or paint thinners in order to thin-out your paint during the painting process?
• What are the steps you take during the clean up process on the job each day to ensure my property and home stay clean and organized during the painting project?
• Do you work on more than one job at a time or multiple jobs and how will that affect our project?
• Do you have 5 – 7 references? Can you show me some houses I can drive by and take a look at or do you have some addresses that you could give me that I could check out on my own?

Tip 3
http://www.andruszkopainting.com/?func=contracttips
Please Copy and paste the above link for the other 3 tips