How to keep a con-artist "contractor" out of the house

Warm weather is when the pests come out -- the kind who try to rip you off on home improvements, that is.

Transient con artists often solicit customers door to door, do shoddy or incomplete work and then skip town with the money when the authorities move in.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry cautions homeowners to be skeptical of anyone who comes to the door unsolicited or uses high-pressure sales tactics.

Be suspicious of contractors who say they've just finished work on a neighbor's house and have just enough materials to do repair work on yours.

Other red flags: The person requests full payment before completing the work, gives you a post-office box without a street address or phone number or promises to do the work faster and more cheaply than any other company.

To avoid scams, NARI recommends you do the following when hiring a contractor:

-Get the name and address of the company.

-Get all details of the offer in writing, and review it carefully. Be sure that you understand everything in the contract and that any promises made orally are included.

-Find out how long the company has been in business. The Better Business Bureau (www.thebbb.org or 206-431-2222) can be a useful resource.

-Call trade organizations with which the company is affiliated to determine its legitimacy.

- Ask for references, and contact each.

- Check with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries www.lni.wa.gov/tradeslicensing/contractors to make sure a contractor is registered with a bond and insured.

By Mary Beth Breckenridge
Akron Beacon Journal

Seattle Times staff contributed to this report. For more tips on home repairs, see "Guide to contractors: Finding a good one, work tips and problem-solving" at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/


David Edwards
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 425-890-8045
E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com
Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com
Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Renton Highlands, Newcastle and South Bellevue.