Do your homework to avoid a home improvement scam

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – A home advancement venture can quickly switch into a rip-off.

The Superior Enterprise Bureau is urging house owners to be wary of scammers posing as reputable contractors.

Tiffany Bernhardt Schultz, with the Wisconsin Improved Small business Bureau, suggests you should really do your homework in advance of shaking palms with a contractor.

She claims a lot more scams are on the rise as a lot more people today have seemed to increase their home during the pandemic and con artists are wanting to consider advantage.

“They prey on your thoughts. They prey on your desires and they genuinely want you to believe that them that they are a reputable contractor and can do the do the job for you at a substantially decrease selling price or a a great deal more rapidly time period of time,” stated Schultz.

Just one significant purple-flag is when a quote is a great deal decreased than other types you’ve obtained.

“Con artists are definitely excellent at supplying you a lowball present, but when they go forward and commence the do the job there’s a million factors that occur up.” said Schultz. “Then, they go ahead and threaten to stroll off your position if you really do not spend up. So you want to be careful.”

Just one way to come across vetted organizations is to get recommendations from pals and relatives.

“You ought to always look at references,” she mentioned. “Check both equally previous and present-day references. Simply call them ask about the top quality the perform and the timeliness of the do the job.”

At the time you have a contractor, Schultz claims to make absolutely sure you have signed and reviewed the agreement.

“You want to keep people documents well right after the career is completed,” said Schultz. “Always hold that documentation so that you can refer again to it. Put these in a put the place you can entry them easily.”

To report a fraud or evaluate a checklist of BBB accredited organizations, simply click In this article.

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