How to Stay Away From Home Repair Scams

Having your home repaired is just part of home ownership. If you own a house, you will undoubtedly have to fix something at some point. Pipes break, air conditioners and heaters get old, and appliances fall apart. Unless you are a handyman, you will most likely have to have a contractor in your house to do some work at some point. While many contractors out there are great, every once in awhile, you'll come across a major scam. The contractor doesn't do what they say they will or they take the money and run. Here are a few tips to keep yourself out of the middle of a home repair scam.

1. Ask for references - When a contractor comes to give you an estimate, the best thing you can do is ask for references. References allow you to check up on the contractor and see what they've done in the past. If they don't have any references, you can pretty much forget about them as a repair man. If they can not supply you with someone that they have done work for in the past, there's a good chance that they don't know what they are doing. They are planning on doing a terrible job for you or taking your money and walking with it.

2. Avoid upfront payments - Asking for all of the money upfront is a clear sign that they are out to get your money and walk away. On many repairs, there is no reason to pay them until the job is complete. Depending on the project, you might have to pay something for materials. You should not expect to buy a house full of carpet or flooring and not pay a dime upfront. The company will be out some money until you pay them for the material. However, in those situations, you can pay for the material and save the part for the labor. This will keep the relationship between you and them on a positive note and still hold them accountable to do a good job for you. If you give a contractor the entire amount upfront, there is not much keeping them from taking your money and walking away with it. Don't make this mistake and keep a tight hold on the checkbook.

3. Ask about certification - Depending on what type of repair you are having done, the contractor will probably need to be certified to do the work. Even if the law does not require that they be certified, it is still a good idea to make sure that they are. While certifications don't tell you the whole story, it at least gets you started. If they went through the effort to get certified, they at least have a pretty good idea of what's going on.

Therefore, you should only trust those that are certified in the field they are in. If they can't produce the credentials, find someone else that will.