Many people buy a home knowing that it will need repairs or improvements in the near future. These issues typically do not deter buyers as long as they do not pose a risk of serious harm or reduce the value of the home considerably. After buying, Georgia homeowners may decide to work with a contractor to perform some construction work on the home, and while many contractors are reputable, the possibility of facing a scam also exists.
Unfortunately, scammers practice their deceptive activities in various areas of life. As a result, new homeowners could find themselves considering home improvements only to have a scammer show up on their doorstep offering services, literally. It is a common practice of scam artists to show up to a home and offer services out of the blue. They may claim that they are looking for business and noticed that a home needed some repairs or improvements. It is wise to be wary of such approaches.
Some other ways to avoid scams include the following:
- Make sure that a prospective construction contractor has all the proper licenses and insurance.
- Search for any complaints about the contractor by contacting the Home Builders Association or similar agencies.
- Consider multiple options and receive detailed estimates about the work that would be done and the price of that work.
- Ask for recommendations from friends or family who have worked with reputable contractors before.
- Read any construction contracts carefully and make sure that no information is missing, such as the contractor’s name, dates of the project, costs associated with the project and more.
Unfortunately, despite one’s due diligence, it is still possible for a contractor to cause problems on a home improvement project. If this happens, Georgia homeowners may need to determine whether the contract has been broken or if serious damages have resulted due to the actions or inaction of the contractor. If so, legal action may be appropriate for handling the situation.