Do your homework to avoid a home improvement scam

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – A household enhancement project can immediately switch into a fraud.

The Far better Enterprise Bureau is urging property owners to be wary of scammers posing as genuine contractors.

Tiffany Bernhardt Schultz, with the Wisconsin Far better Company Bureau, says you should really do your homework before shaking palms with a contractor.

She says much more frauds are on the increase as more men and women have looked to boost their property during the pandemic and con artists are hunting to consider benefit.

“They prey on your emotions. They prey on your requires and they seriously want you to think them that they are a legit contractor and can do the do the job for you at a a lot decrease price tag or a substantially faster time time period,” explained Schultz.

A single significant purple-flag is when a quotation is a great deal reduce than other types you’ve been given.

“Con artists are truly fantastic at offering you a lowball provide, but once they go ahead and start the work there’s a million points that appear up.” claimed Schultz. “Then, they go ahead and threaten to walk off your job if you don’t fork out up. So you want to be careful.”

1 way to locate vetted firms is to get tips from buddies and spouse and children.

“You should really usually test references,” she mentioned. “Check equally past and present-day references. Get in touch with them question about the quality the operate and the timeliness of the function.”

The moment you have a contractor, Schultz states to make guaranteed you have signed and reviewed the contract.

“You want to maintain people documents properly after the occupation is concluded,” stated Schultz. “Always hold that documentation so that you can refer back again to it. Set people in a location where you can access them quickly.”

To report a fraud or critique a list of BBB accredited firms, click on Below.

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